Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus 1

Diabetes is an abnormal bodily condition in which an insufficient amount of insulin is being produced. While this is happening an abnormal amount of urine is being produced. Large amounts of sugar are included in the blood stream and urine . Signs include thirst, hunger, and loss of weight.

In this LAP I will be talking about Diabetes. I will be discussing what Diabetes is and its causes and effects . I will be mentioning the two different types of diabetes and what both of them consist of. How can diabetes be treated and its different conditions. How diabetes connects to heart disease strokes and other difficulties. How does a normal person live wit diabetes.

The Second part of this LAP will be informing on how Diabetes has impacted my life. I will be writing about how I feel about diabetes and how it has made me stronger.

How diabetes can affect a whole family with only one person in it having it .

I will me talking about the struggles of a person living wit diabetes and how they can die from it . How a person begins to loose some functions and senses. Over all I will be discussing the causes and effects of Diabetes and how its impacts peoples lives especially mine.

In the conclusion of this project I will be stating my opinions of diabetes and my views on how people should prevent this horrible and sad disease.

Diabetes Mellitus 2

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and other signs, as distinct from a single illness or condition. The World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes ,which have similar signs, symptoms, and consequences, but different causes and population distributions. Ultimately, all forms are due to the beta cells of the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia. Type 1 is usually due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin. Type 2 is characterized by tissue-wide insulin resistance and varies widely; it sometimes progresses to loss of beta cell function. Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes, in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones of pregnancy cause insulin resistance in those women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.

Types 1 and 2 are incurable chronic conditions, but have been treatable since insulin became medically available in 1921, and today are usually managed with a combination of dietary treatment, tablets and, frequently, insulin supplementation. Gestational diabetes typically resolves with delivery.

Diabetes can cause many complications. Acute complications may occur if the

Diabetes Mellitus 3

disease is not adequately controlled. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease ,chronic renal failure which can lead to blindness and is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly in the developed d, nerve damage , and micro vascular damage, which may cause erectile dysfunction and poor healing. Poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, can lead to gangrene which can require amputation this is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults in the entire world. Good treatment of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis on blood pressure control and lifestyle factors such as not smoking and keeping a healthy body weight, may improve the risk profile of most complications.

The goal of treating type 2 diabetes is to keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as you can. Changing your eating habits and being more active are often the very important first steps. But healthy eating and exercise don’t always lower blood sugar enough. You may need to take one or more medicines to help keep your blood sugar under control. By following these steps which may be difficult to some people a person with any kind of diabetes may be able to live a long and healthy life with out any major complications.

Diabetes affects an estimated 18 million people in the United States 90 percent to 95 percent have type 2 diabetes. Thirteen million have been diagnosed, but 5.2 million are

Diabetes Mellitus 4

unaware they have the disease. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the American Diabetes Association statistics prove that 9.3 percent are women, 8.7 percent are men, 206,000 are children under 20, 8.6 percent are adults under 60, 2.7 million are African Americans, 2 million are Hispanics and Latinos, and 12.5 million are Caucasians.

Although there are many treatments and support groups for diabetes not everyone take the time and dedication to follow treatments and stay healthy. A lot of people loose there life at a early age from diabetes. Diabetes can also do a lot of psychological damage to the person who has it and or their families. The fear of blindness, amputations, and death often fill the heads of those who have diabetes and there families with thinking this is the end.

I was always very close to my father and we usually spend a lot of time with each other. I was daddy’s little girl so he did anything possible to keep me happy. He always worked since I can remember and always liked to go out with the family to have dinner or jus walks in the mall .He was pretty much the only person I could count on for anything.

He was always filled with light and energy which was my motivation in life since he was so supportive in anything that I did or said.

Diabetes Mellitus 5

In July 1993 I began to notice weird changes in my father. His eating habits were changing. He would mostly skip work to jus lay down. A lot of time when he did go out

with us he would faint and he had like a yo-yo type of weight loss and weight gain. This of course began to worry my mother and myself so we suggested he should go to