This paper provides a comprehensive overview of diabetes mellitus as a chronic public health disease affecting millions of Americans and hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It describes the clinical diagnostic criteria — including fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance, and random plasma glucose tests — and distinguishes between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The paper outlines common symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue, and reviews the descriptive epidemiology of the disease, including its rising prevalence, racial and ethnic disparities in incidence, and key risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity. The paper concludes by framing diabetes as both a local and global public health emergency.
Diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body uses blood sugar. It is, moreover, a chronic health condition 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 does not produce enough insulin — a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar — or it cannot 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 (Al-Lawati, 2017). About 9% of Americans have diabetes, and approximately 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 describes the diagnostic criteria and symptoms of diabetes, the epidemiology of the disease, and who is most impacted.
The clinical and diagnostic criteria for 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 blood sugar levels checked two hours later. If blood sugar levels are high, it indicates diabetes. The OGTT is more accurate than the fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), which only checks blood sugar levels after the patient has fasted for eight hours. However, the OGTT is also more expensive and time-consuming. The random plasma glucose test is equally accurate and involves checking blood sugar levels after the patient has consumed anything containing sugar (Rhee et al., 2019). If blood sugar levels are elevated, it indicates that the patient is not processing sugar efficiently and may have diabetes. Hyperglycemic readings after a random plasma glucose test are a strong 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 stages of diabetes mellitus — early stage and late stage. Early-stage diabetes is often asymptomatic, while late-stage diabetes typically manifests with symptoms such as polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss. Treatment for diabetes mellitus includes lifestyle modification (e.g., diet and exercise) and pharmacotherapy (e.g., insulin therapy).
Both types of diabetes can lead to a build-up of sugar in the blood, which can cause a range of symptoms. These may include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision. Some people may also experience slow-healing wounds and yeast infections. In some cases, diabetes can lead to more serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. For this reason, it is important for people who think they may have diabetes to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
"U.S. prevalence, racial disparities, and risk factors"
"Worldwide cases, costs, and WHO estimates"
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 and 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 insulin or does not produce enough of it. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to preventing these complications and improving long-term health outcomes.
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