Medical Essay on Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the US. It is common and a costly lifestyle disease yet manageable. This paper will focus on type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells are unable to use insulin a disorder known as insulin resistance. The pancreatic beta cells producing insulin unwaveringly lose their ability to provide insulin. It is very common for adults as 90-95% diagnosed with this type of diabetes are people advanced in age. Type 2 diabetes is associated with behavioral factors such as obesity, smoking, failure to exercise regularly and emotional distress such as depression. Social factors associated with type 2 diabetes include family history, age, and ethnic background.

However, within the context of finding out why type 2 diabetes develops in some people and not in others, specific factors increase the risks. For instance, these factors may involve weight, fat distribution, family history, inactivity, gestational diabetes, prediabetes, and also age. When an individual is overweight, they are at risk of contracting the type 2 diabetes which may be involved in the distribution of fats which render a more significant threat if the fats storage is in the abdomen. With a consideration on prediabetes (blood sugar level higher than usual) as a risk factor, if the condition is left untreated then there are chances it may progress to the type 2 diabetes. Similarly, for gestational diabetes, if one develops gestational diabetes when they are pregnant, they are at risk of developing the type 2 diabetes. These risk factors may not evidently cause type 2 diabetes but increase the chances of getting the diseases.

Some of the public health programs adopted to deal with diabetes include mass screening strategies. They involve screening for blood glucose levels which help identify the disease in good time hence taking appropriate prevention measures. Creating awareness of the need for healthy living by maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy and exercising on a regular basis helps reduce the risk factors linked to diabetes. Emphasizing the need for proper life among the risky population will address the behavioral elements attached to the occurrence of type 2 diabetes (Keneally & Sheridan, 2011).

The success of these strategies relies on individuals input. For instance, reinforcing healthy living practices, healthy eating, and regular physical exercise may not be easy. It is so because of time constraints and personal commitments. However, schools should set aside 30 minutes for physical activity daily. Screening reduces the risks of developing complications through early diagnosis and timely prevention. It is fundamental in its setting to minimize the development of these diseases. Nonetheless, different issues are facing the implementation of screening. For instance, mass screening is not cost effective since there is only a small population in the general population at risk. Another issue affecting mass screening is that it is not done regularly and therefore it might not succeed in early prevention on its own (Herger et al. 2004).

I tend to believe that rehabilitation of drug addicts and patients recovering from addiction to alcohol are essential ways of reducing this type of diabetes. Since smoking and alcoholism are some of the risk factors linked to type 2 diabetes, it is necessary to educate the patients of the importance of quitting. Therapy is also vital to reduce stress which also plays a role in the occurrence of the disease.

It is advisable to conduct regular blood glucose levels screening to identify complications when they are still in their manageable stages (Tuomilehto et al. 2001). It is also vital to provide intensive training on the diabetic patient's caregivers. Lastly, the health ministry should consider having quarterly world diabetes days which can be used to sensitize people on the imminence of healthy living and also conduct mass screening at the end of each quarter.

References

Herger, T. J., Harris, R., Hicks, K. A., Donahue, K., Sorensen, S., & Engelgau, M. (2004). Screening for type 2 diabetes: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 140(9), 689-699.

Keneally, T., & Sheridan, N. (2011). Protocol-based nurse management of type 2 diabetes did not differ from usual GP care for HbA1c levels. Annals of internal medicine, 155(6), JC3-7.

Tuomilehto, J., Lindstrom, J., Eriksson, J. G., Valle, T. T., Hamalainen, H., Ilanne-Parikka, P., ... & Salminen, V. (2001). Prevention of type 2 diabetes by changes in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. New England Journal of Medicine, 344(18), 1343-1350.