Diabetes Sugar Disease

Words: 1875
Pages: 8

The increasing prevalence of Diabetes is a major concern in our society. Diabetes has become one of the common diseases citizens across the country visit the hospitals for. Many people across the globe have certain myths and misconceptions of diabetes as the "sugar disease." But that's only part of the story, a 5% truth of the whole. Research from the World Health Organization indicates that about 347 million people worldwide and growing have diabetes. In 2012, an estimated 1.5 million deaths were recorded, directly caused by diabetes. More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and some parts of Asia. WHO research indicates that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030 (WHO white paper, …show more content…
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. When a person has diabetes, the pancreas is not able to manufacture enough insulin the body needs, uses the insulin incorrectly, or both. Insulin works collectively with glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream to help it enter the body's cells to be burned for energy. If the insulin isn't functioning properly, glucose cannot enter the cells. This causes glucose levels in the blood to rise, creating a condition of high blood sugar or diabetes, and leaving the cells without fuel (Cleveland Foundation, 2013). The term "diabetes" is derived from the Greek word for siphon (a tube bent in two through which liquid flows) and the Latin word "mellitus," which means sweet as honey (Saudek & Margolis, …show more content…
Type 2 diabetes comprises 90% of people with diabetes around the world (Geneva, World Health Organization, 1999), and is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity. Type 2 symptoms may be similar to those of Type 1 diabetes, but are often less clear. As a result, the disease may be diagnosed several years after onset, once complications have already arisen. Until recent days, this type of diabetes was only prevalent in adult, but now children are also being diagnosed of type 2. Obesity is major contributing factor to insulin resistance and then further to type 2