Diabetes

Introduction

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body uses blood sugar. It is, moreover, a chronic health disease that, with health screenings, medication, diet, and exercise, can be controlled. The lack of education about the disease and appropriate healthcare for it results in a lower quality of life or premature death. According to the CDC (2022), approximately 122 million Americans are living with diabetes.

Normally, the body breaks down food into glucose, which is then used for energy. However, in people with diabetes, the body either doesnt produce enough insulin (a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar) or it cant use insulin effectively. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood instead of being used for energy. Over time, this can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Diabetes is a major public health problem in the United States and globally as well (Al-Lawati, 2017). About 9% of Americans have diabetes, and about one-third of those who have it do not even know it (CDC, 2022). The good news is that diabetes can be controlled through diet, exercise, and medication. By taking steps to control diabetes, people can reduce their risk of developing serious complications. This paper will describe the diagnostic criteria of diabetes as well as symptoms, the epidemiology of the disease, and who is most impacted.

Diagnosis and Symptoms

Diagnostic Criteria

The clinical/diagnostic criteria for the disease of diabetes mellitus are as follows: a fasting plasma glucose level ? 7.0 mmol/l (? 126 mg/dl), or a 2-hour plasma glucose level ? 11.1 mmol/l (? 200 mg/dl) during an oral glucose tolerance test, or symptoms of hyperglycemia with a random plasma glucose ? 11.1 mmol/l (? 200 mg/dl) (Bartoli et al., 2011; Rhee et al., 2019).

The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the gold standard for diagnosing diabetes. It involves drinking a sugary drink and then having your blood sugar levels checked two hours later. If your blood sugar levels are high, it means you have diabetes. The OGTT is more accurate than the fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), which only checks blood sugar levels after one has fasted for eight hours. However, the OGTT is also more expensive and time-consuming. The random plasma glucose test is a test that is just as accurate as the OGTT and that involves checking the patients blood sugar levels after the patient has eaten or drank anything containing sugar (Rhee et al., 2019). If the patients blood sugar levels are high, it means the patient is not processing sugar efficiently and may have diabetes. Hyperglycemic readings after a random plasma glucose test are a good indication that a patient may be diabetic.

In addition, there are two sub-classifications of diabetes mellitus: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by insulin deficiency, while type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance. There are also two stage of diabetes mellitus, which are early stage andlate stage. Early stage diabetes is often asymptomatic, while late stage diabetes usually manifests with symptoms such as polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss. Treatment for diabetes mellitus includes lifestyle modification (e.g.,...…(19%) than blacks (11%) or Hispanics (10%).

Globally, the situation is dire as well: According to the World Health Organization (n.d.), diabetes mellitus is a global public health emergency. In Europe, a 4% increase in cases year-over-year has been reported, and 3% rate increase globally (Forouhi & Wareham, 2010). The organization estimates that there are currently more than 422 million adults living with diabetes, and the number is rising. The WHO estimates that the direct and indirect costs of diabetes totaled $1.3 trillion in 2010. With the number of cases expected to rise in the coming years, it is clear that diabetes Mellitus presents a local and global public health emergency.

The descriptive epidemiology of diabetes can provide important insights into the burden of this disease and the factors that contribute to its development. This information can be used to inform prevention efforts and improve the overall health of affected populations.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body is unable to properly regulate blood sugar levels. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness. In addition to its toll on individual health, diabetes also imposes a significant economic burden on society. There are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile onset or insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the pancreas produces little to no insulin. It is usually diagnosed in children or young adults. Type 2 diabetes, previously known as adult onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes, occurs when the body becomes resistant to…