Category: Diabetes

There are two categories of diabetes, which are type-1 and type-2. The existing medical research discovered the treatment of type-1 diabetes. This type of diabetes is less common and only occurs during the early stage when the immune system of the body attacks and destroys cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. The type-2 diabetes is a common health problem among many people but it is hard to treat. Stem cell research has discovered a possible medical treatment for various health conditions by growing transplantable cells and body organs (Bruin et al., 2015).

The new treatment approach might be used to control type-2 diabetes. Through stem cell therapy, doctors can develop new insulin-producing cells to replace the ones lost by the pancreas. The approach could help control type-2 diabetes, which is harder to treat but constitutes 90 percent of all cases of diabetes throughout the world (Szot et al., 2015).

Currently, there is no proven stem-cell-based treatment for type-2 diabetes. Through laboratory experiments, scientists were able to make beta cells, which could be transplanted in the pancreas of diabetic patients. The current research is exploring the possibilities of making new beta cells essential for stem cell therapy. The approach could lead to the transformation of mature pluripotent stem cells into beta cells through laboratory processes. These beta cells can then be transplanted into the patient with type-2 diabetes.

The research also explores the possibility of making mature beta cells from other organs such as liver cells and transplants them into a diabetic patient. Antibiotic drugs are also expected to be used to trigger the successful insertion of the cells in the pancreas of a diabetic patient (Bruin et al., 2015).

The stem cell research activities done in various laboratories have shown the possibilities of having great success. However, the main challenge is how to protect the cells transplanted from being attacked by the body’s immune system. Pluripotent cells can be used to make any type of human cell. It is with this regard that the researchers explore the possibility of using the platform to make fully functioning beta cells. The success of the research could make it possible to replace the donor pancreatic islets of the Langerhans, which are scare body resources (Szot et al., 2015). Researchers have managed to produce pluripotent stem cells that respond to blood sugar in the same way as beta cells. During the clinical trials, the beta cells will undergo safety tests.

On the other hand, some researchers explore the possibility of using the already existing pancreatic cells in the patient to create new beta cells. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether the stem cells are present in the pancreas although the researchers had discovered the existence of beta-cell progenitors. Also, researchers are looking for drugs, which can activate these progenitor cells in the diabetic patient or trigger other mature cells in the pancreas to create beta cells.

These include the possibility of using mature cells from organs such as the liver and skin to create beta cells through laboratory processes (Bruin et al., 2015). These scientific approaches are still in the experimental stages and they have not reached the clinical trial stages. The successful experimental activities and clinical trials of stem cell therapy would provide greater relief for patients with type 2 diabetes.

References

Bruin, J., Saber, N., Braun, N., Fox, J., Mojibian, M., & Asadi, A. (2015). Treating diet-induced diabetes and obesity with human embryonic stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitor cells and antidiabetic drugs. Stem Cell Reports, 4(4), 605-620.

Szot, G., Yadav, M., Lang, J., Kroon, E., Kerr, J., & Kadoya, K. (2015). Tolerance induction and reversal of diabetes in mice transplanted with human embryonic stem cell-derived pancreatic endoderm. Cell Stem Cell, 16(2), 148-157.

According to a study conducted by Aguayo-Mazzucato and Bonner-Weir (2010), there is a cure neither for diabetes type 1 nor diabetes type 2. However, research by Chhabra and Brayman (2013) established that there is a way to treat diabetes type 2. The rationale is that positive results were observed from experiments where stem cell therapy was used to prevent and treat different types of diseases. Diabetes type 1 which is known as insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) occurs when the immune system identifies and destroys the pancreatic cells which produce insulin. Diabetes type 2 which is non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) prevalent in adults mostly, is caused by insufficient production of insulin, which makes the body cells nonresponsive to the insulin.

The results of a specialized study by Chhabra and Brayman (2013) on the treatment of diabetes type 2, which makes 90% to 95% of the cases known globally, has shown that it is viable to treat this disease using stem cells therapy. Research conducted by Brignier and Gewirtz (2010) compared traditional treatment methods which are the use of diets, exercises, and drug administration to a combination of oral medication and stem cell therapy. It also showed that the disadvantage of oral medication is that it subjects the patient to low blood levels, weight gain, and gastrointestinal problems, which can be overcome by combining stem cell therapy with the traditional methods (Brignier & Gewirtz, 2010). The first stem cell treatment tested on mice with diabetes type 2 as a potential alternative to the traditional treatment techniques used a combination of traditional methods with stem cell therapy based on insulin replacement. Here, Hocking and Gibran (2010) noted that the specialized use of leptin replacement reversed the resistance to insulin in mice with moderate fat deficiency.

According to Hocking and Gibran (2010), the experiment was done first inducing markers into the mouse with diabetes type 2 that was fed on a high-fat diet to reduce the body’s response to insulin. Then, the second phase consisted of “encapsulating pancreatic progenitor cells from the human embryonic stem cells before they were transplanted into the mice” (Hocking & Gibran (2010, p.2). Here, the first group of animals was treated using stem cells and drugs, while the second group of animals was treated using the drugs only. The first group of mice that were treated with a combination of stem cell therapy and drugs showed a stronger positive response to the combined treatment than the second group.

A similar study that used metformin, sitagliptin, and rosiglitazone drugs combined with stem cell therapy where “mice were subjected to a combined treatment plan of antidiabetic medication with stem cell transplantation showed that the mice underwent weight loss and glucose metabolism successfully” (Jarajapu & Grant, 2010, p.4).

According to the findings by Holscher (2010), it is possible to replicate the results on human beings to increase the metabolism of the body cells by targeting derived mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) from adult allogeneic bone-marrow.

In conclusion, the answer to the question if stem cell therapy promises the cure for diabetes is affirmative because the research analyzed has yielded positive results which show that the combined treatment of diabetes type 2 using stem cells and oral administration of drugs is possible.

References

Aguayo-Mazzucato, C., & Bonner-Weir, S. (2010). Stem cell therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 6(3), 139-148.

Brignier, A. C., & Gewirtz, A. M. (2010). Embryonic and adult stem cell therapy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 125(2), S336-S344.

Chhabra, P., & Brayman, K. L. (2013). Stem cell therapy to cure type 1 diabetes: from hype to hope. Stem Cells Transl Med, 2(5), 328-336.

Hocking, A. M., & Gibran, N. S. (2010). Mesenchymal stem cells: paracrine signaling and differentiation during cutaneous wound repair. Experimental cell research, 316(14), 2213-2219.

Holscher, C. (2010). Incretin analogues that have been developed to treat type 2 diabetes hold promise as a novel treatment strategy for Alzheimer’s disease. Recent patents on CNS drug discovery, 5(2), 109-117.

Jarajapu, Y. P., & Grant, M. B. (2010). The promise of cell-based therapies for diabetic complications challenges and solutions. Circulation research, 106(5), 854-869.

Available literature demonstrates that hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level has received recommendations as a diagnostic test for diabetes due to its capacity to indicate how well controlled blood sugars have been over time (Liang et al., 2012). As suggested by these authors, HbA1c is essentially a marker of long-term glycemic exposure particularly in patients with microvascular diabetic complications such as retinopathy.

It is very useful in the diagnosis and treatment of several forms of diabetic complications as it reflects an average blood glucose level over 2-3 month period of time (Liang et al., 2012).

It is a well known fact that improved glycaemic control forms a critical component in delaying the onset of diabetic complications, hence medical practitioners should use HbA1c to monitor the blood sugars as “…the Hb molecules have a stable adduct of glucose to the N-terminal valine chain [Hb chain (blood) – N-(1-deoxyfructos – 1-yl) Hb chain]” (John & English, 2012 p.1243).

In more simpler terms, it is well known that blood glucose tends to bind itself to the surface of Red Blood Cells (RBCs), and that the average life-span of a Red Blood cell is around 90-120 days or three-four months. The concept of HbA1c measures the numbers of RBCs with glucose attached to them to provide a basic understanding of how well controlled blood glucose levels are over the past three months.

This therefore implies that higher levels of glucose in the blood will be exhibited by the number of RBCs in the sampled blood with an appendage of glucose (Liang, 2012). Owing to its capacity for telling a longer period of blood sugar control, the examination of haemoglobin A1c is currently widely employed as a diagnostic testing tool for the assessment of the blood sugar (glycemic) control among patients presenting with diabetic complications (Wiwanitkit, 2012).

It has been mentioned that the average lifespan of the red blood cell is 90-120 days or three-four months, implying that persons with various diabetes complications such as diabetic retinopathy need to undertake the test after every three months to coincide with the average lifespan of the RBCs (Liang et al., 2012). However, available literature demonstrates that the test is very costly and it may be available in the developing countries for a limited number of people with diabetic and cardiovascular complications (Wiwanitkit, 2012).

Lastly, it is imperative to have a basic understanding of how the blood sugar goes up and down and how this is demonstrated in the HbA1c test. Blood glucose is bound to rise when the patient takes carbohydrate-containing foods, eats meals or snacks close to each other, experiences shifts in hormone levels, or lives a very inactive life.

In equal measure, the blood glucose level is likely to go down if the patient becomes physically active, takes appropriate diabetes medicines, and engages in concerted efforts to check his or her level of calorie uptake (Rose & Kitchell, 2008).

Taking alcohol on an empty stomach and exercising beyond what is medically acceptable for diabetic patients may lead to disastrous results in terms of lowering the blood glucose levels to the extreme. However, as mentioned earlier, the level of blood sugars will be exhibited by the number of RBCs in the sampled blood with an appendage of glucose when the HbA1c is performed on the patient (Liang et al., 2012).

Higher levels of glucose appendages in the RBCs will most probably demonstrate high and unsustainable levels of blood sugars that have the capacity to occasion or worsen diabetic complications.

References

John, G., & English, E. (2012). IFCC standardized HBA1c: Should the world be as one? Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine, 50(7), 1243-1248.

Liang, J., Zhou, N., Teng, F., Zou, C., Xue, Y., Yang, M., Song, H., & Qi, L. (2012). Hemoglobic A1c levels and aortic arterial stiffness: The cardiometabolic risk in Chinese (CRC) study. PLoS ONE, 7(8), 1-6.

Rose, E., & Kitchell, D. (2008). Does daily monitoring of blood glucose predict hemoglobin A1c levels. Journal of Family Practice, 52(6), 485-490.

Wiwanitkit, V. (2012). Correlation between hemoglobin A1c level and fasting blood glucose level: A summary on the reports in the setting of high prevalence of hemoglobin disorder. Scientific Journal of the Faculty of Medicine in Nus, 29(2), 89-92. Retrieved from https://publisher.medfak.ni.ac.rs/index.php/en/

Diabetes is one the commonest disorders. It is a condition whereby the body fails to produce sufficient and or fails to respond appropriately to insulin. Insulin is the hormone that is generated in the pancreas whose purpose is to facilitate the absorption of glucose by the body cells for its subsequent conversion into energy.

Consequently, diabetes is alternatively defined as “a defect in the body’s ability to convert glucose (sugar) to energy” (Wild et al., 2004, p.1048). Essentially, there are three types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation, 90 percent of the cases of diabetes often involve diabetes type 2 (2011, Para.2).

With this prevalence of this type of diabetes, incredible researches have been done on the effective ways of managing diabetes type 2. Exercise is one of the ways of managing type 2 diabetes. Indeed, there is an enormous body of research about the implication of exercise in managing diabetes type 2.

With regard to Jelalian et al. (2010), increased physical activity through exercise is an incredible mechanism of maintaining people’s body healthy (p.23). In this perspective, it is arguable that exercise can incredibly help to check on a person’s blood sugar levels. The whole society needs to appreciate the significance of exercise in facilitating the existence of a healthy human population.

Consequently, as Diabetes and Physical Activity (2012) informs, among persons afflicted by diabetes type 2, exercise has become one of the dominant topics (p.129). However, the control of diabetes requires not only exercise but also a proper diet (Harwell et al., 2011, p.127).

The role of exercising in the control of diabetes is particularly critical by noting that diabetes has been associated with overweight and obesity. Therefore, as people exercise to shed off excessive weight, chances are that they will also reduce the level of complications associated with diabetes type 2 (Wild et al., 2004, p.1049).

Since obesity is one of the risk factors for diabetes, advocating for exercise among adolescents at an early age amounts to a crucial attempt to curtail the complication of diabetes. Jelalian et al. (2010) reinforce this argument by further lamenting that initiating strategies to help the society reduce weight can enormously aid in defeating diabetes type 2 (p.128).

Nevertheless, with regard to Diabetes and Physical Activity (2012), weight treatment needs to be done consistently by advocating for good dietary habits, physical activity, and exercise (p.131). While weight treatment is done in such a regulated environment, chances of having people possessing the capacity to maintain diabetes type 2 under control increase in multifold (Harwell et al., 2011, p.129).

This paper proposes a research on the role of exercise among people afflicted by diabetes type 2 in managing their blood sugar levels. However, in addition to this endeavor, the proposed research hypothesizes that a cute management of blood sugar levels through exercise correlates with the management of other diabetes type 2 risk factors such as obesity.

The research design that will be used in the research will entail seeking to get data of patients afflicted by diabetes type 2 from healthcare facilities. In the proposed research, there are two measurable dependent variables (DVs). These are weight and blood sugars levels. The independent variable (IV) denotes the number of times that a patient turns up for exercises, for instance, in healthcare gymnasium facilities.

Dependent Variable

Under the IV, the behavior that will be measured is the response of the participant to blood sugar levels while engaging in physical activities through exercise. To come up with adequate information for drawing conclusions, this behavior will be measured for a month within an interval of three days. The data will then be entered in a spreadsheet for subsequent analysis.

Independent Variable

To determine the actual response of participants when subjected to physical activities, it will be important to have control groups and some means of manipulating some variables as instructed by health care professionals. The controlled variable will be the time of exposure to physical activities. It will be uniform for all participants. On the hand, people have differing body weights both in overweight and underweight conditions.

Thus, in the research, the reduction of weight on exposure to physical activities will be computed based on the percentage of the reduction margin to the original body weight. Participants will be required to precisely follow the research schedules particularly on the days of reporting for their physical exercise sessions. This will make the results obtained consistent and more accurate.

Another critical instruction for the participants to subscribe is the appropriate dietary guidelines as given by their health care professionals so that, between the intervals for the different physical exercise sessions, a participant will not build on weight.

What will be desired will be a continuous trend in weight reduction so that a relationship can be established on the corresponding blood sugar levels.

Method

In a bid to garner data from the selected health facilities, the chosen healthcare facilities will be required to have a diabetes intervention program through physical activities besides supporting facilities such as gymnasium. The data will then be used to randomly select a sample from which the measurements on the impacts of physical activities on blood sugar level will be measured.

The sample size will be selected such that it captures characteristics such as age and gender. This will help in giving a more general impact of physical activity on blood sugar levels among persons afflicted by diabetes type 2.

Participants

The participants will also be patients at the health care facilities that will be selected. Consequently, for them to precisely follow the instructions, it will be vital for the researcher to administer the instructions through the health care professionals attending the patients.

Materials

In the measurement of the variables, measurement instruments will be required. These will include instruments for measuring blood sugar levels, time, and weight. Apparently, in health care facilities, all these instruments are readily available. Hence, neither additional material nor special supplies are required.

Projected Results

The projected results for the study are that the number of times that the participants turn out for the physical activity interventions directly relates to their magnitudes of weight reduction and management of their blood sugar levels so that it fluctuates within narrower ranges in comparisons to persons who do not attend such intervention programs. For the conclusions to be made based on research with great precision, it is desirable to maintain the confidence levels at 0.95.

Implications

Although it is not true to presume that obese people are diabetic, statistics on the diabetic obese people among the participant will be inferential in seeking to determine the correlation between overweight and blood sugar levels among the sample of diabetic participants selected while subjected to physical activities.

Therefore, if the results confirm the hypothesis, the implication will be that it is necessary for programs seeking to manage diabetes type 2 through increased physical activities among the patients to concentrate on incorporating mechanisms that will enhance the reduction of body weight among the diabetic persons.

Reference List

Diabetes and Physical Activity. (2012). The Diabetes Educator. London: Routledge.

Harwell, S., Vanderwood, K., Hall, O., Butcher, K., & Helgerson, D. (2001). Factors associated with achieving a weight loss goal among participants in an adapted Diabetes prevention program. Primary Care Diabetes, 5(2), 125-129.

International Diabetes Federation. (2011). Types of diabetes. Web.

Jelalian, E., Lloyd-Richardson, E., Mehlenbeck, S., Hart, C., Flynn-O’Brien, K., Kaplan, J. & Wing, R. (2010). Behavioral Weight control treatment with supervised exercise or Peer-enhanced adventure for overweight adolescents. The Journal of Pediatrics, 156(6), 923-928.

Wild, S., Roglic, G., Green, A., Sicree, R., King, H. (2004). Global prevalence of diabetes: Estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care, 27(5), 1047–1053.

Introduction: Diabetes in the 21^st Century

Topic Justification

One must admit that a range of programs for diabetes prevention and management, as well as raising awareness regarding the subject matter and the significance of community support for the people suffering from it have been developed (Joseph & Donner, 2015). However, new treatment options must be sought; otherwise, the disease will remain lethal and will affect countless numbers of people throughout the world (Protheroe, Rowlands, Bartlam, & Levin-Zamir, 2017).

Therefore, the choice of the topic can be considered justified. It is imperative to evaluate not only the available tools for diabetes treatment but also the opportunities for curing it successfully. Even though no cure has officially been found so far, a range of studies have been carried out, and some of them point to the fact that there may be hope for the victims of diabetes.

Research Question: A Cure Is a Possibility

When carrying out the study, one will have to embrace all available strategies that can be deemed as a possibility for curing diabetes. It should be borne in mind, though, that some of the options for treatment are only in development and need further testing. Therefore, the research question can be pout in the following way: Do the contemporary innovative treatment approaches and the use of the medicine that is currently in development allow the possibility of curing diabetes?

Rationale: Diabetes as One of the Primary Health Concerns

The reason for the research to bear such significance is rather basic. As stressed above, diabetes has a huge impact on the global mortality rates. Being an incurable disease, it leads to a significant drop in the quality of patients’ life, contributes to the development of a range of comorbid issues, and leads to death unless properly managed. Furthermore, the fact that little to no success has been made so far in developing the treatment against the disease indicates that there is a strong need to explore the available options and consider the latest innovations suggested by researchers worldwide.

By arranging the available options according to their effect and success in managing diabetes, one will be able to evaluate the opportunities carefully and efficiently. As a result, the chances for the further design of the possible cure can be created. The synthesis of the existing information about the available options for diabetes treatment is crucial to a better understanding of the problem and the identification of the most promising routes that the further studies should take.

Literature Review: What Recent Studies Show

Despite the attempts of researchers all over the world, diabetes remains an incurable disease. The death toll of diabetes is truly horrifying; according to the recent statistics, in 2014, there has been a nearly four-fold increase in the number of people suffering from diabetes compared to the 1980 data (422,000,000 and 108,000,000 people correspondingly) (World Health Organization, 2017). Diabetes represents a consistent threat to the well-being of the global population and, therefore, needs to be addressed.

According to the official statement of WHO, there is currently no medicine that will provide complete recovery from diabetes; instead, only the tools that can provide life support and increase the life expectancy of the patient significantly can be provided (World Health Organization, 2017). However, researches have been going on to maintain the search for the cure ongoing and make sure that the relevant information should be analyzed accordingly. As a result, several options for the future development of diabetes cure have been identified.

The use of herbal therapy, while sounding rather unrealistic, is slowly becoming a possible solution. In fact, the reasoning behind the assumptions made by the scholars that promote the said approach is quite sufficient for making a statement of such great magnitude. Particularly, the proponents of the theory behind the use of herbal therapy argue that the rise in the sugar levels in the patient’s blood, which can be viewed as the primary cause of diabetes, can be controlled with the help of hypoglycemic constituents. As the name suggests, the latter allow reducing the sugar levels in the patient’s blood significantly, therefore, creating the foundation for not only successful management of the condition but also possible introduction of the tools that can make the effect of the medicine permanent (Burdi, Qureshi, & Ghanghro, 2014). When considering the limitations of the specified approach, though, one must mention that there is currently no strategy for making the effects of the said herbal treatment framework permanent; instead, in most cases, the patients experience only temporary relief (Burdi et al., 2014). Thus, there is a need to reconsider the identified approach and explore other options as far as the use of herbal medicine for diabetes treatment is concerned.

Other studies also show that there is a possibility for the herbs-based strategy to have a positive effect on the treatment of diabetes. For instance, Pal et al. (2016) make it obvious that a range of plants can be used as the raw material for producing the protein metabolism medication that is bound to become the foundation for developing a cure against diabetes. Particularly, the authors overview the existing herbs pointing to the fact that the said plants have been used to produce innovative medications against diabetes. For instance, Pal et al. (2016) mention that 4-hydroxyleucine has been recently discovered and identified as the amino acid that can be extracted from fenugreek (Oal et al., 2016).

Therefore, one must give credit to herbal medicine as the possible option for treating diabetes in the nearest future. While the concept of using herbs as the foundation for developing a medication of this big an impact, the recent studies indicate that there is, in fact, a chance to create the foundation for curing diabetes with the help of hypoglycemic plants. It should be noted, though, that keeping their effect consistent and uninterrupted is currently viewed as the primary focus of the future studies.

Stem cell studies are currently considered another promising area that could possible produce a cure for diabetes. Stem cell research has opened a gateway for researching the issue of diabetes management and possible cure. The field of stem cell research offers a plethora of opportunities for considering the problem from several angles, including not only the traditional one but also the analysis of the patient’s genetic makeup, the study of the environmental factors to which the patient has been exposed, etc. (Preeti & Brayman, 2013).

As a result, the basis for a detailed and thorough study can be created. Furthermore, the outcomes of the analysis may produce the information that will ultimately lead to the design of the unique stem-cell-based diabetes cure. Particularly, the approach suggests that the patient’s immune system should be altered so that resistance toward the disease could be built. The process of immunomodulation, in turn, is based on the introduction of a stem-cell-based approach. To be more exact, the regeneration of β-cells is viewed as the possible tool for curing diabetes (Aziz, Deeb, Esmail, Talkan, Makboul, & Ali, 2015).

The reason for scientists to expect success when applying the identified approach to a practical case of diabetes is that stem cell can not only renew but also replenish and change. Therefore, by planting them into the patient’s body, one may expect that the stem cells will help β-cells rebuild seeing that stem cells have proven to have a certain β-cell-regenerative potential (Preeti & Brayman, 2013). Therefore, it can be assumed that the use of the stem-cell-based approach may also contribute to the development of the cure that will ultimately lead to defeating diabetes and providing the patients with an opportunity to recover.

Similarly, a combination of pancreatic progenitor cells and antidiabetic drugs has also been suggested recently as the possible source of creating the cure for diabetes (Bruin et al., 2015). The research results, however, show that the hyperglycemia and obesity that could be viewed as the effects of the patients’ diet and not the genetic disposition could not be addressed properly in the course of the study.

Therefore, the treatment opportunity that the research provides can be viewed as suitable only for the patients that have not developed diabetes as a result of their unhealthy diet. That being said, the outcomes of the study still provide a lot of food for thoughts and can be viewed as shocking even for the present-day medicine, with its advanced technology and groundbreaking discoveries. The idea of using stem cells as the tool for curing diabetes has been in development for years, yet it is only recently that the actual proof of the chance for creating the cure has been provided.

Conclusion: Diabetes Will Be Cured

Diabetes is one of the diseases that can be defined as the plague of the 21^st century. Its death toll is immense. It affects the quality of lives of people all over the world, causing significant discomfort and suffering. Therefore, the problem must be addressed, and the cure for diabetes must be found.

Recent studies show that two opportunities for curing diabetes have been opened recently. Particularly, the use of herbal therapy and stem cells should be viewed as the primary options. While the former might not sound as credible and compelling as the latter, it does stand on its own as a possible source of cure development, Since herbal treatment has already proven to have a tangible effect on the patients’ well-being, it can be assumed that, by making its effects permanent, one will be able to create the ultimate cure.

Stem cell research, in turn, also has a plethora of results to share with patients and healthcare practitioners alike. To be more specific, stem cells can be used to replicate the β-cells that contribute to the enhancement of the immune system and allow fighting the development of diabetes successfully. As a result, a continuous improvement can be expected. Although each of the frameworks for curing diabetes remains a theory, they are likely to be implemented soon.

References

Aziz, M., Deeb, A., Esmail, K.,Talkan,H., Makboul, M., & Ali, H. (2015), A possible role in immune response modulation after autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation in type1 DM. Life Science Journal, 12(12), 35-42.

Bruin, J. E., Saber, N., Braun, N., Fox, J. K., Mojibian, M., Asadi, A.,… Kieffer, T. J. (2015). Treating diet-induced diabetes and obesity with human embryonic stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitor cells and antidiabetic drugs. Stem Cell Reports, 4(4), 605-620.

Burdi, D., Qureshi, S., & Ghanghro, A. B. (2014). An overview of available hypoglycemic triterpenoids and saponins to cure diabetes mellitus. Advancements in Life Sciences, 1(3), 119-128.

Joseph, J. J., & Donner, T. W. (2015). Long-term insulin glargine therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a focus on cardiovascular outcomes. Vascular Health and Risk Management, 11(3), 107-116.

Pal, R. S., Wal, P., Pal, Y., Sachan, S., Kumar, D., & Tiwari, S. (2016). A review article on: the usage of herbal medicines in the treatment of diabetes. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, 3(6), 201-204.

Protheroe, J., Rowlands, G., Bartlam, B., & Levin-Zamir, D. (2017). Health literacy, diabetes prevention, and self-management. Journal of Diabetes Research, 17(1), 1-3.

Preeti, C., & Brayman, K. L. (2013). Stem cell therapy to cure type 1 diabetes: From hype to hope. Stem Cells translational Medicine, 2(5), 328-336.

World Health Organization. (2017). Diabetes. Web.

Health is defined by the World Health Organization as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing. It is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Factors that affect health can be divided into many categories. The current paper explores these elements using a case study of diabetes. The analysis is provided in the context of health belief model as the preferred approach to behavioral change.

Diabetes: A Brief Outline

The term “diabetes” is used to describe a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood. The condition is mainly brought about by low or inadequate production of insulin in the body. It can also be caused by the failure of body cells to respond properly to insulin (Brown, Dougherty, Garcia, Kouzekanani & Hanis, 2002). There are two major types of diabetes. They include diabetes mellitus type 1 and diabetes mellitus type 2.

The latter is also known as the “disease of affluent”. It is characterized by chronic and non-communicable diseases. Personal lifestyles and societal conditions associated with economic development are believed to be important risk factors associated with this condition. Obesity is a growing health concern in the world, especially due to its high prevalence rates among the youth. For example, between 2001 and 2009, cases of this condition among individuals aged below 20 years rose by 23% in the USA alone (Cash, 2014).

Behavioral Change Programs Used in Overcoming Obesity

Selected Model

The health belief model was selected for the purposes of this study to deal with diabetes. It is a psychological framework used to identify, predict, and explain behavioral patterns related to health (Carpenter, 2010). It has 4 major constructs highlighting the perceived threat and the associated benefits. They include the following:

1. Perceived vulnerability.
2. Apparent severity.
3. Perceived benefits.
4. Perceived hurdles.

The framework above was selected for a number of reasons. For example, it helps the target population to acknowledge the negative impacts of a given health condition (Marks, 2003). Behavioral change projects in relation to diabetes have progressed over the years. Today, they include a wide range of activities and approaches. Most of these interventions focus on the individual as the locus of change (Glanz, Rimer & Viswanath, 2008).

Behaviors Contributing to the Diabetes Problem

There are various individual behavioral elements that increase the risk of becoming diabetic or succumbing to the condition. They include, among others, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, failure to take medication, and lack of problem solving skills (Cash, 2014). Other risk factors include lack of awareness and ignorance among the target population. It is important to address these issues to help deal with the health problem.

Using Health Belief Model to Deal with Diabetes

The model is made up of four interdependent elements as described below:

Perceived vulnerability

When using this model, individuals are made to realize that they can contract a given health condition if they fail to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The practitioner starts by first gauging the beliefs of the target population with regards to the link between risky lifestyle and diabetes. They are taught how poor feeding habits, lack of physical exercise, and such other issues may predispose them to diabetes (Carpenter, 2010). As such, they are encouraged to go for screening (Brown et al., 2002).

Apparent severity

Diabetes leads to a number of health complications. The aim here is to deal with the community’s belief systems in relation to perceived severity of diabetes. Members of the public will be made to acknowledge the consequences of contracting diabetes. As a result, they will realize that it is important to go for screening (Carpenter, 2010).

The aim is to help those at risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes to significantly reduce the chances of contracting it. In addition, the approach can be used to help those with diabetes to regulate their glycerin levels (Glanz et al., 2008).

Perceived benefits

The objective is to analyze the perceptions of the community members in relation to the avoidance of the risk factors (Marks, 2003). The benefits of adhering to the instructions provided will be made apparent.

Perceived barriers

Adhering to the instructions provided to help avoid or mitigate effects of diabetes has its consequences. One of them includes disruption of lifestyles (Kapyla, 1996). The beliefs of the target population in relation to this element will be gauged. Their fears will be dealt with accordingly.

Legislation as an Ecological Framework

The Ecological Determinants of Diabetes

Individual behavior is influenced to a large extent by their environment. The proposed ecological framework can be used to deal with factors beyond the control of the person at three levels.

Micro level

It contains structures that the individual has direct contact with (Kapyla 1996). They include the family, the school, and neighborhood. Diabetes can easily arise at this level because lifestyle is largely determined by significant others around the individual.

Legislations can be put in place to ensure that parents become good role models. In addition, access to unhealthy foods among children, such as sweetened drinks, should be regulated. Policies can also be formulated to ensure that schools organize walks and other forms of physical exercises for their learners (Cash, 2014).

Meso level

The level connects two or more systems in which an individual lives. An example is the link between teachers and parents in relation to children with diabetes. Governments can formulate policies to rally people around activities related to prevention of diabetes in municipalities, districts, and healthcare. Persons living with diabetes should be accommodated at this level (Marks, 2003).

Macro level

It is made up of cultural values, customs, and laws (Kapyla 1996). Companies dealing with the manufacture of unhealthy foods should be banned from promoting their products near schools. In addition, government can set aside funds to support such projects as riding bicycle to school or work.

Factors Targeted by the Ecological Model to Alleviate the Problem of Diabetes

The condition can be controlled through physical exercise (Brown et al., 2002). To this end, one factor to be addressed entails the design of public structures. In such cases, people are likely to use the stairs instead of lifts. Another factor involves public transport. Sidewalks and bicycle lanes should also be properly maintained.

They should be regarded to be as important as highways (Kapyla 1996). The third element involves participation. Community leaders should ensure that food outlets within their jurisdictions adhere to set health standards. They should regulate the number of fast food joints to promote good eating habits. The last factor has to do with resources. Funds should be made available for projects aimed at reducing diabetes.

Conclusion

Behavior change is an effective way of controlling most health conditions, such as diabetes. The health belief model can be used to help change the perceptions of the target population in relation to diabetes.

However, the individual has no control over a number of elements relating to the environment around them. As such, there is a need to come up with an ecological model to complement the selected behavioral framework. In conclusion, it is clear that many diseases like diabetes can be prevented through the adoption of the appropriate interventions.

References

Brown, S., Dougherty, J., Garcia, A., Kouzekanani, K., & Hanis, C. (2002). Culturally competent diabetes self-management education for Mexican Americans: The Starr County border health initiative. Diabetes Care, 25(2), 259-268.

Carpenter, C. (2010). A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of health belief model variables in predicting behavior. Health Communication, 25(8), 661-669.

Cash, J. (2014). Family practice guidelines (3rd ed.). New York: Springer.

Glanz, K., Rimer, B., & Viswanath, K. (2008). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Kapyla, M. (1996). Cultural-Ecological frame of reference as organizer of contents in environmental education. European Education, 28(3), 82-94.

Marks, J. (2003). Perioperative management of diabetes. American Family Physician, 67(1), 93-100.

Individuals living in the contemporary society are faced with numerous health issues and challenges. Majority of these problems are brought about by the unhealthy behavior and lifestyle associated with the affluent modern society. Consequently, the need for healthy behaviors and demand for health education are growing significantly. It is important to put in place strategic programs to facilitate behavioral changes. Such interventions will encourage people to engage in positive behaviors, resulting in healthy lifestyles.

According to Glanz, Rimer, and Viswanath (2008), health education focuses on addressing the gap between the existing strategies using in optimizing health and the actual practices. In light of this, health education can be used to bring about behavioral changes within individuals and societies. The intervention can be used to move from detrimental activities to positive practices that favor health.

On its part, healthy behaviors refer to the actions undertaken by individuals or groups with the aim of promoting their wellbeing. Such practices touch on the determinants, correlations, and consequences of health (Glanz et al., 2008). In addition, healthy conduct refers to those personal attributes associated with the maintenance, restoration, and improvement of individual wellbeing (Glanz et al., 2008).

The attributes include beliefs, expectations, desires, goals, attitudes, and other cognitive elements. They also entail personality traits, including affective and emotional statuses and dispositions. Healthy mannerisms also take into consideration explicit behavior patterns, actions, and habits (Glanz et al., 2008).

Going by the above definitions of health education and healthy behaviors, it is apparent that both can be used to address the various issues affecting human society today. In the current paper, the author develops a program to be used in addressing the problems associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Health Issues in Contemporary Society: An Overview

The two conditions are a major health concern in the modern society. It is a fact that genetics play a major in the development of diabetes in an individual. However, in spite of this, behavioral practices, such as food consumption, are believed to be major triggers of this disease. Vanderwood, Hall, Harwell, Butcher, and Helgerson (2010) identify a number of behavioral risk factors in relation to diabetes and heart disease. They include, among others, low vegetable and fruit consumption, cigarette smoking, and reduced physical activity.

Cardiovascular disease does not necessarily result from diabetes. However, experts argue that it is one of the major complications arising from the condition. According to Ljung, Olsson, Rask, and Lindahl (2013), type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are the most common public health problems.

It is noted that lifestyle modification can help prevent 80% of the cases (Ljung et al., 2013). Cardiovascular complications have become the leading cause of death globally. To this end, they accounted for 30% of deaths reported in the world in 2008 (Ljung et al., 2013).

The prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases has increased in the last 10 years, especially in the developed countries (Ljung et al., 2013). The situation exerts enormous pressure on existing healthcare systems given that the resources set aside for this sector are not elastic.

As such, promoting healthy behaviors is an important element of the interventions used to address the two conditions. For instance, Vanderwood et al. (2010) propose a framework of health education and healthy behavior among individuals diagnosed with these diseases.

According to Ljung et al. (2013), the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is expected to rise by more than 200 percent between 2000 and 2030. Within this period, the number of reported cases will rise from 171 million to 366 million. The main risk factors associated with these problems are related to individual’s lifestyle. Such predisposing elements include, among others, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor eating habits.

Factors related to the individual are major drivers behind the prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, it is also clear that the society plays a significant role in this development. For example, the prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular complications in the developed countries is mainly driven by sedentary lifestyles characterizing these societies.

In addition, people in developed nations have shifted to the consumption of high-calorie foods that are rich in processed fats. The consumption is detrimental to their health (Vanderwood et al., 2010).

Healthy Behavior and Health Education in Relation to Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases: Program Strategy

The Goals and Objectives of the Program

The intervention has two major objectives. The two include increasing awareness among the target population in relation to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. A number of campaigns have been conducted in the past to sensitize people on healthy lifestyles. However, most of these interventions were very broad.

They failed to focus on one particular health issue or problem. The design of the proposed program is meant to ensure that it escapes from this bottleneck (Ljung et al., 2013). Consequently, the intervention focuses on the creation of awareness with regards to how people can adopt healthy behaviors and habits.

The other objective is to encourage people to actually engage in the identified healthy behaviors, especially with regards to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It is clear that in spite of the existing knowledge in relation to healthy lifestyles and balanced diets, most people disregard the messages propagated by these campaigns. The number of people still dying from diabetes and cardiovascular related conditions can attest to this (Glanz et al., 2008).

A number of health education and healthy behavior theories have been incorporated into the proposed program. The aim is to enhance the impact of this intervention on individuals and on the society at large. The proposed construct is expected to communicate risks associated with unhealthy behaviors, as well as encourage people to be proactively in changing the situation (Vanderwood et al., 2010).

General Concepts and Key Elements of the Program

The planned strategy is a comprehensive undertaking in the sense that it addresses the problem at the individual and the societal levels. According to White, Terry, Troup, and Rempel (2007), improper diets, mental stress, and inadequate physical activity are the major contributors to the pathogenesis of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Consequently, the elements are major lifestyle modification components of the program.

The first phase of the project involves the development of health promotion activities. The activities include educating individuals and the entire society on common risk factors that increase susceptibility to diabetes and cardiovascular complications.

The communication will be propagated through different settings, such as healthy workplaces, health-oriented schools, and other institutions. The essence of this phase is to avert the emergence of the two diseases. It is also aimed at reducing the prevalence of the existing risk factors within the society (White et al., 2007).

The next step of the intervention entails risk assessment and management. The objective will be achieved by carrying out opportunistic but conscientious blood screening. Community screening campaigns should be carried out with the help of all social stakeholders. In addition, patients visiting hospitals should be encouraged to voluntarily consent to blood screening for these conditions (Glanz et al., 2008).

Health workers will be at the forefront in the implementation of the program. Their participation will require the setting up of resource centers and institutions for the program. Paramedics will be tasked with the responsibility of supervising the various activities being undertaken.

In addition, individuals and the entire society will be motivated to take part in the program through the use of role models (White et al., 2007). The models will include prominent personalities suffering from the conditions and those who have improved their health by engaging in the behavior modification activities.

The program will also include the promotion of healthy behavior among children of all ages. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2007), the formative years are essential in setting the path for one’s future health. As such, the children will be educated on the need for balanced diets. They will also be trained on the importance of engaging in physical activities at a tender age, especially sports. Health behavior will be incorporated into their early childhood education (ECD) programs.

The lifestyle of most people in contemporary society is largely sedentary and work oriented. Consequently, healthy workplaces and health promoting schools will be developed. Every institution will be encouraged to set up such facilities as gyms and allocate time for employees to use them. Healthy workplaces can also be established by encouraging the provision of supportive environment and proper diets (Glanz et al., 2008). In addition, health promotion should be incorporated into occupational safety programs for enhanced effectiveness.

Every community should at least have a public gym. They should also have exercise clubs and other venues suitable for physical activities. Education officials, parents, students, and community leaders will be used to promote health education in their communities. Ultimately, healthy behavior and health education policies will be developed and implemented at all levels of the society (Vanderwood et al., 2010).

Theories and Models Supporting the Program

The social cognitive theory (SCT) will be used as the behavioral change construct in addressing the issue of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the society. The choice of the theory is based on its comprehensive nature and ability to bring together different concepts. SCT advances the importance of continuous and ongoing interactions between the individual, the environment, and the target behavior.

According to Glanz et al. (2008), majority of social and behavioral theories focus on the self and on the environmental and social factors that determine a given trait. Some of these elements include social norms exhibited through mediums of mass communication, rewards, and barriers.

The proponents of SCT argue that human behaviors are the result of dynamic interplays between environmental, behavioral, and human influences (Ljung et al., 2013). The theory focuses on the ability of individuals to alter and construct environments that suit their purposes (White et. al., 2007). The assumption is based on the fact that human beings have the capacity to interact with and shape their surroundings. They do this either individually or as a society.

Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are chronic conditions whose major susceptibility contributor is the individual’s lifestyle. The proposed strategy reflects the concepts of SCT by seeking to prompt individuals to take action. Educating the society on healthy behavior creates awareness among individuals with regards to their ability to rise above their condition (White et al., 2007).

The program is used to enlighten the society on its capacity to prevent and overcome diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. The strategy further seeks to alter the environment by instilling a culture of healthy eating habits and physical activity. The creation and development of more exercise facilities alters the surroundings literally. It ensures that people are more exposed to exercises.

The proposed program is based on four concepts of SCT. The concepts are outlined in the table below:

Table 1: Social cognitive theory concepts.

Source: Glanz et al. (2008)

In relation to the concept of reciprocal determinism, the program seeks to encourage individuals to alter their behaviors since they are capable of doing so. The health education aspect of the strategy focuses on this concept of SCT. Once the society has been saturated with information regarding diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the next step is to have them act on this knowledge (Glanz et al., 2008).

Outcome expectations are apparent in the proposed program. The concept is part of the reciprocal determinism aspect of the strategy. During the propagation of health education in the society, people will also be made aware of the benefits associated with lifestyle modifications. Once enlightened in this respect, the problems associated with convincing them to take part in the program are reduced (Vanderwood et al., 2010).

The concept of observational learning in the SCT theory is next incorporated into the diabetes and cardiovascular prevention and management program. The strategic project proposes the use of role models in promoting health in the society. Exposing the targets to these individuals will encourage them to embrace the program. In addition, exposing the society to media displays of other communities implementing the plan and their experiences will facilitate its overall acceptance (White et al., 2007).

The proposed program emphasizes on the need for lifestyle changes. Once people adopt a given habit, it is very difficult for them to change. Some individuals may never change without proper facilitation. The realization is the major reason behind the setting up of exercise facilities, health clubs, and other amenities in the society.

Implementation of healthy behavior and health education policies is also based on the concept of facilitation. Educating children on healthy living is aimed at facilitating them to develop positive habits as they grow (White et al., 2007). In addition, healthy workplace policies facilitate the promotion of functional behaviors under various social settings.

Conclusion

Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are exerting pressure on the healthcare system and on the society at large. The formulation and implementation of effective programs to address the issue can significantly reduce deaths and costs associated with the conditions. The proposed strategy is based on SCT model. The theory provides the formulators of this project with a social analysis perspective and framework. The two will be used to promote healthy living through health education in the society.

References

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2007). A science-based framework for early childhood policy: Using evidence to improve outcomes in learning, behavior, and health for vulnerable children.

Glanz, K., Rimer, K., & Viswanath, K. (2008). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (4th ed.) Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Ljung, S., Olsson, C., Rask, A., & Lindahl, S. (2013). Patient experiences of a theory-based lifestyle-focused group treatment in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 20(1), 378-384.

Vanderwood, K., Hall, T., Harwell, T., Butcher, M., & Helgerson, S. (2010). Implementing a state-based cardiovascular disease and diabetes prevention program. Diabetes Care, 33(1), 2543-2545.

White, K., Terry, D., Troup, C., & Rempel, A. (2007). Behavioral, normative, and control beliefs underlying low-fat dietary and regular physical activity behaviors for adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 12(4), 485-494.

Diabetes is short for diabetes mellitus and is one of the common chronic diseases. Generally, a chronic disease is a health condition with long term effects on affected individuals. According to Ekoé, Rewers, Williams and Zimmet (2008), the major effects of diabetes include long term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various body organs.

Other chronic diseases include cancer, arthritis, asthma, and obesity. In a definition by the World Health Organization, diabetes is a state of chronic hyperglycemia resulting from many environmental and genetic factors often acting together. According to Mandal (2014) diabetes is a health condition where the body encounters difficulties as far as the utilization of ingested glucose is concerned. It is usually associated with excessive blood sugar levels.

In order to understand diabetes, it is first necessary to know how the body operates to generate energy (Beaser, 2008). Ordinarily, food that is eaten by human beings is usually turned to glucose so as to be used by our bodies to produce energy.

To ensure that glucose eventually gets into our body cells, an organ in the body referred to as pancreas produces insulin. For a diabetic person, the amount of insulin produced is either not enough or the body can not effectively utilize the insulin produced. As a consequence, the amount of sugar in the blood is made to rise and this cause discomfort for the affected individuals.

There are two common types of diabetes referred to as type 1 and type 2 respectively. Type 1 is due to insufficient insulin while type 2 results from inappropriate use of the insulin produced. Although not very common, gestational, neonatal, and maturity onset are other forms of diabetes. Gestational affects women during pregnancy while neonatal interferes with the production of insulin. Maturity onset diabetes of the young is a condition that affects young children.

Prevalence of Diabetes

Drawing from a study by DRI (2014), the global incident rate of diabetes is quite high and the number of those getting affected by the condition is constantly increasing. Over the last ten years, the number of people suffering from diabetes in the United States reportedly grew by 40 percent.

Presently, it is estimated that 26 million Americans are diabetic (DRI, 2014). Globally, the number of people suffering from diabetes is approximately, 382 millions. The World Health Organization hypothesizes that the number will be more than double by the year 2030.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Among the symptoms of diabetes mellitus are impaired vision and weight loss. Affected individuals also pass urine quite often especially at night. They also experience extreme tiredness and slow healing of cuts or wounds on the body. Moreover, symptoms of type 1 diabetes tend to be obvious and the condition develops very fast. Unlike diabetes type 2, type 1 diabetes can easily be controlled once detected. On the contrary, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes are difficult to detect since the condition takes time to develop.

Apparently, type 2 diabetes can only be noticed through a medical check up. This type of diabetes is also easy to treat once spotted. In children, diabetes presents itself with severe symptoms including high levels of glucose in the blood, as well as marked glycosuria and ketonuria. For most children, the diagnosis is confirmed without delay by blood glucose measurements and treatment, which includes the injection of insulin, can be initiated at immediately.

Drawing from a study by Ekoé, Rewers, Williams and Zimmet (2008), the usual clinical symptoms of diabetes, polyuria and polydipsia, are the direct result of a high concentration of glucose in the blood. Weight loss in spite of polyphagia, ketoacidosis, visual changes, skin infections, sepsis and pruritus belong to the same list of symptoms.

The symptoms are, however, absent in the case of mild hyperglycemia. Ostensibly, the frequency of most symptoms is quite different in previously undiscovered diabetes as contrasted with people with diabetes who have been under treatment for months or years. Other factors such as the intensity of treatment, degree of acceptance of recommended therapy and age of onset, do affect the frequency of the different symptoms.

Treating Diabetes

Certainly, the treatment of diabetes starts with the discovery of the condition in one’s body. Once the symptoms have been discovered, treatment should follow immediately to control the disease. Until recent times, people with diabetes could only use diet, exercise, or weight control for treatment. In addition, patients mainly depended on doctors and nurses to determine whether they are diabetic. The discovery of insulin in 1921 and technological advancements changed the diagnosis and treatment approaches completely (Beaser, 2008).

Advancements in technology made it possible for any person with diabetes to check the level of glucose in his or her blood without having to seek the help of a doctor or nurse. An important consideration of the treatment process is that every patient should actively be involved in the management of his or her diabetic condition.

According to Beaser (2008), diabetes should be treated for two reasons. The first reason is so that one can feel better and gain relief from immediate and uncomfortable symptoms caused by high levels of glucose in the blood. Secondly, treatment is important for preventing or minimizing the long term complications that can result if the blood glucose remains high for a long time.

In treating diabetes, patients may be required to control the glucose level in their blood through lifestyle changes. This includes changing the type of food as well as eating habits. Patients are also expected to be physically active. With time, however, the treatment combines lifestyle changes, diabetic pills and insulin injection. In general, the treatment cycle for a diabetic person involves four basic approaches. First, it is necessary for patients to plan their food and meals well.

This helps to ensure that what is eaten is well balanced and that the body gets appropriate nutrients. The second approach involves regular physical activity. Physical exercise is important regardless of whether one is diabetic or not. Besides helping patients to feel better, physical exercise preserves and increases the strength of muscles.

It also gives the heart a good workout, maintains a healthy weight, and improves the efficiency of lungs. The third approach involves taking medication which may include the injection of insulin if a person has diabetes type 1. As pointed out earlier, it may be necessary to combine medication with lifestyle strategies. Finally, there is need for self-monitoring. The monitoring process involves checking one’s blood for glucose level and relating this to medication, the type of food eaten, and physical activity.

Preventing Diabetes

Apparently, most people who have diabetes are not aware that they have it. Consequently, it is important to have a medical check up to determine the absence or existence of the condition. People are also encouraged to maintain healthy lifestyles. Among other things, this includes having an appropriate weight, good eating habits, regular physical activity, and avoiding alcohol or cigarette smoking. Arguably, this is a reliable approach and one that can be used by people who have a family history of diabetes.

A complete natural program for preventing diabetes includes taking a low carbohydrate diet rich in vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats. It is also helpful to take nutritional supplements from time to time. A good prevention program helps in keeping a tight control of blood sugar levels.

Other Risk Factors and Interesting Facts about Diabetes

Diabetes is considered to be the greatest cause of stroke, blindness, and kidney as well as heart failure (DRI, 2014). As a condition, diabetes does not only affect the patients. It is the source of emotional and financial burden for families of the affected individuals. In the United States, the public has to spend heavily every year to cater for the demands of diabetic people.

Arguably, people with diabetes are at increased risk of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases (Ekoé, Rewers, Williams & Zimmet, 2008). As a result, diabetes is also regarded as a set of abnormalities characterized by a state of sustained hyperglycemia.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, diabetes mellitus is a serious health condition that can lead to prolonged suffering and discomfort for the affected individuals. As such, it is necessary to be aware of the condition and look for the best approach to treat or prevent it. As has been explained, treatment involves changing one’s lifestyle and engaging in activities that promote healthy living.

It also involves taking diabetes pills and self-monitoring. However, rather than wait to become diabetic, it is important to undergo a thorough medical check up and to devise a plan to either prevent or eliminate diabetes.

References

Beaser, R. S. (2008). The Joslin Guide to Diabetes: A Program for Managing Your Treatment. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Diabetes Research Institute (DRI). (2014). What is Diabetes? Web.

Ekoé, J. M., Rewers, M., Williams, R. & Zimmet, P. (2008). The Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Mandal, A. (2014). What is Diabetes? Web.

The word diabetes underscores a number of related diseases leading the body being unable to regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) in the human body blood. Diabetes is of three main types-type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. This paper focuses on diabetes type 1 and type 2, which are the most common types. People afflicted by diabetes type 1 lack the ability to produce enough insulin. Those affected by type 2 diabetes are unable to utilize insulin well.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced by pancreases, and permits the movement of glucose into body cells from the blood where it is broken down to release energy. When one is affected by diabetes, the movement of glucose is inefficient, making the levels of glucose in the blood high. As a result, various cells starve and some tissues may be harmed due to exposure to high levels of glucose. Ten percent of people that are affected by diabetes in the US have type 1 diabetes (Wild, et al., 2004, p.1048).

Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed either during adolescent or child hood. It may also result from destruction of pancreases by alcohol in older people. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed during adulthood (mostly above 45 years), and it accounts for 90% all diabetic people (Wild, et al., 2004, p.1049).

The causes of diabetes are valid. Diabetes type1 is essentially autoimmune. This means that it results when the “immunity cells of the body attacks the insulin producing cells of the pancreases” (Rother, 2007, p.1499).

Environmental factors such as viral infections coupled with hereditary factors may cause diabetes type 1, but genetic links are more associated with diabetes type 2. Other factors that cause diabetes type 2 include ethnicity, high amounts of alcohol intakes, overweight, large amounts of fat intakes, aging, sedentary life styles, and hypertension (high blood pressure) among other causes.

Symptom of diabetes type 1 includes Ketoacidosis; a condition evidenced by vomiting and nausea, and accompanied later by potassium levels disturbances in the body coupled with infections of urinary tract partly due to viral infections or injury. In case ketoacidosis goes untreated, it translates into a comma and finally death. The symptoms of diabetes type 2 include stress, steroids, and a syndrome called hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic (Saydah, et al., 2001, p.1398).

The symptoms that are common to both diabetes include blurred vision; infections such repeated yeast infections in genitals, skin, and urinary tract; wounds may heal poorly; alteration of mental status such as agitation, confusion, irritability, which cannot be explained and inattention among others, excessive thirst, excessive eating, fatigue, and large weight losses, which cannot be explained.

Diabetes is treated in a number of ways. People with diabetes type 1 are normally treated by the administration of insulin on a daily basis to sustain their life.

On the other hand, people with diabetes type 2 are treated through exercise, diet control, weight loss therapies or even administration of oral medications. However, as Rother posits, “ more than half of all people with type 2 diabetes require insulin to control their blood sugar levels at some point in the course of their illness” (2007, p.1500). As it is today, there exists no known cure for diabetes type 1 and 2.

A lot of intensive research is been undertaken to seek a cure for diabetes, but challenges exist since diabetes is genetic. However, over the last couple of years scientists have discovered about 2000 genes responsible to an equal number of genetic defects. It is thus probable that they will be able to replace the defective gene causing diabetes with a healthy one in the future.

References

Rother, K. (2007). Diabetes Treatment—Bridging the Divide. The New England Journal of Medicine, 356(15), 1499–1501.

Saydah, S., Miret, M., Sung, J., Varas, C., Gause, D., & Brancati, F. (2001). Post challenge Hyperglycemia and Mortality in a National Sample of U.S. Adults. Diabetes Care, 24(8), 1397–1402.

Wild, S., Green, A., Sicree, R., & King, H. (2004). Global Prevalence of Diabetes: Estimates for the Year 2000 and Projections for 2030. Diabetes Care, 27(5), 1047–1053.

Definition

Type1 diabetes occurs when the body’s own immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells found in the pancreas (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). In such cases, the body’s immune system reverses its action on attacking various cells within the body, instead of fighting against disease causing pathogens. This makes it difficult for the transfer of sugar into the cells of those suffering from type 1 diabetes due to absence of insulin.

Such scenario causes severe build-up of sugar within the blood stream, hence making the body cells deprived of nutrients, which leads to weakening of other bodily functions due to lack of nutrients. However, there is need for through understanding of the immune-detailed process, resulting in type 1 diabetes before application of any kind of therapy. Such processes involve accurate identification of the children suffering from the disease (American Diabetes Association).

Pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes

Causes of type 1 diabetes can be linked to human leukocyte antigen (HLA), capable of contributing to favorable conditions for the disease development within the body. However, genotypes which combine the two susceptibility haplotypes DR4-DQ8 and DR3-DQ2 are identified to be at the greatest risk of contracting type 1 diabetes.

The haplotypes are prevalent among children under the age of 10. At the same time, those who are close to affected children are at high risk of contracting type 1 diabetes based on genetically motivated make-up. Besides such presence of insulin genes in the body, chromosomes can also contribute to the disease. The disease’s susceptibility is associated with shorter forms of variable number tandem repeated within the insulin promoter which is contrary to longer forms capable of natural protection (Shulman and Daneman 680).

Issues related to increased expression of mRNA within the thymus of those identified to have longer protective repeats present one of the most potential mechanisms required in type 1 diabetes. Studies have identified over ten loci, related to the disease, in which the genes associated with activation of T-cell have been identified (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).

Studies on genetics have defined crucial reasons behind large and well-characterized populations in the process of identifying susceptibility genes for type 1 diabetes. Some genes are known to have less impact on the susceptibility of the disease and used in providing clues for future preventive measures.

Vitamin D and intercellular adhesion molecule gene are utilized for the purposes of providing body protection against the disease. Children diagnosed with rickets at the early stages of life are identified to have high risks of contracting type 1 diabetes at the later stages of their life (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).

Type 1 diabetes is the most prevalent disease in young children. This form is considered to appear as a result of environmental changes children are subjected to at early stages of life. The process seems too rapid to be associated with genetic alterations. The cause is further explained by the concomitant widening on the HLA risk profile caused by increased environmental pressures on susceptible genotypes (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).

These are caused by disease causing pathogens, specifically identified as rubella. Young children under the attack of congenital rubella are considered to have high chances of contracting type 1 diabetes. Exposing children to dirty environment full of microbes and pathogen leads to innate immune responses containing some allergic reactions to the disease casing organisms (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).

Clinical manifestations

Type 1 diabetes takes longer time to manifest due to the fact that the process of destroying insulin-producing beta cells is always long and insidious. This leads to accumulation of insulin production leading to sudden appearance of type 1 diabetes. However, warning signs of type 1 diabetes seem numerous.

These include frequency in urination among children, uncontrolled thirst for sweet things, including cold drinks, dire weakness of the body tissues and muscles also leading to extreme fatigue, blurred vision and frequent cases of irritability and acute symptoms involving nausea and vomiting. In some cases, it is possible to identify some other warning symptom, such as deep and rapid breathing, experiences of dry skin and mouth, frequent stomach pains and flush looking face (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).

Laboratory diagnosis

Type 1 diabetes is rarely diagnosed, especially among young adults. According to research, the disease increases its presence from birth to adolescence between age eleven and twelve. The disease is at times linked to heredity though some patients normally have no disease family history.

Patient’s medical history is a requirement of the diagnosis process alongside clinical features (American Diabetes Association). Such clinical features include examination of urine for glucose levels, checking of blood pressure, thorough examination of certain body parts, especially the feet, etc. Foot sores are at times ignored owing to senselessness within the feet nerves.

Detailed analysis of the blood is required to establish the level of glucose in patient’s blood. However, glucose tolerance tests which are normally performed involve taking lots of water with 75 grams of glucose, and then blood is tested two hours after the dose has been taken.

In such a case, impaired glucose tolerance is indicated with levels ranging from 140mg/dL to 200mg/dL (American Diabetes Association). Diagnosis is done through laboratory testing by undertaking such processes as suppressing blood glucose level. The performance of random blood glucose level is carried out to detect levels higher than 200 mg/dL and accompanied by increased thirst, fatigue and frequent urination.

Another test used is referred to as oral glucose tolerance test and hemoglobin A1C test. Levels of hemoglobin which are less than 5.7% are normal, while those between 5.7% and 6.4% indicate signs of pre-diabetes where any level higher than 6.4% identifies presence of diabetes (American Diabetes Association).

Latest treatments

Those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes should adopt the habit of taking insulin on a daily basis. This is since insulin has the capability of lowering blood sugar level by making it possible for sugar to leave bloodstream and enter into cells. Insulin is injected under the skin since the doses are not available in pill form.

Health care providers normally give patients the necessary prescriptions on the type of insulin as well as the timing the dose is to be taken. The differences occur depending on speed of action and length of time the injection lasts in the body. However, there are cases when mixture of insulin is used for the purposes of obtaining the best blood glucose control. Injections should be administered from two to four times daily.

Basically, child injections require parental assistance unless the child is over 14 years old (Levitsky and Misra n.pag.). Those suffering from type 1 diabetes are advised to take meals about the same time daily, with the meal comprising almost the same kinds of foods. Undertaking regular exercises assists in controlling blood sugar level and also burning extra calories and fat within the body.

Prevention and prognosis of the disease

There are still no clear prevention measures against type 1 diabetes. However, the ongoing research provides clear perspectives on the direction toward therapeutic interventions required for the solutions. Physicians can apply various preventive measures as prescribed through proven research works, such as initiation of auto-immunity and making some adjustments on beta cell regeneration.

Other possible prevention measures involve identification and elimination of environmental risk factors surrounding children. There is also possibility of re-educating children’s immune system by exposing them to the so-called beta-cell antigens which are taken orally (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).

Tolerance can as well be induced through insulin since it provides the required auto-antigen therapy. The immune system can also be regulated by the use of T-cells within the field of beta cell differentiation. As explained, objective regeneration of beta cells may provide other preventive strategy against type 1 diabetes which includes detailed distinction of pancreatic and non-pancreatic components.

The prognosis of type 1 diabetes focuses on the likely outcome of the disease. These comprise duration, complications of type 1 disease and the probable outcome. Proper medical attention ensures appropriate control of the disease. However, the disease may result in some complications, such as kidney disorders, eye infections and problems with the nerve fibers and circulatory system (American Diabetes Association).

Works Cited

American Diabetes Association. “Standards of medical care in diabetes.”Diabetes Care, 34(2011):S11-S61. Print.

Levitsky, Lynne L and Madhusmita Misra. Management of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents. 2011. Web.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. Your guide to Diabetes: Type 1and type 2. 2010. Web.

Shulman, RM and D Daneman. “Type 1 diabetes mellitus in childhood.”Medicine,38 (2010):679-685. Print.