Diabetes: A Pandemic in the Making

What really is this Diabetes and why should we be concerned about it?

Diabetes Mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a disease that is metabolic in nature. Simply put, Diabetes is a condition that results from either an impaired production of the body’s sugar-regulating hormone in the pancreas or when the body cannot use this hormone; the effect of which results in an increased sugar level in the blood.

There are 2 types of diabetes simply referred to as Type 1 and Type 2. The key distinction between the two is that Type 1 diabetes is caused by an insufficient insulin in the body (due to the impaired production) while Type 2 is brought about by the weakened insulin resistance due to different reasons as people age. With Type 2 diabetes, there is enough insulin in the circulation but the body cannot utilize it for some reasons.

But before we go any further, let us first discuss: what is this insulin that we are referring to? 

Insulin is the hormone responsible for converting the starch and sugar that we eat into a form of energy that the body can use for our daily activities. If we don’t have it or it is insufficient in amount, sugar will be retained in the blood stream. Because of elevated sugar levels, blood becomes more viscous and consequently, if not properly managed, can lead to other life-threatening health conditions.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the year 2000, there were around 171 million people diagnosed with diabetes.  Nowadays (just 12 years after), it is alarming how the figures have amplified by more than a 100% and diabetes cases around the world  are now being tallied at 346 million...and counting. Between Type 1 and Type 2, the latter is more prevalent as it comprises 90% of the total cases of Diabetes Mellitus and the average age of people with diabetes are around 40 to 59 years old. In the United States, 30.3 Million are affected with diabetes or 10% of the diabetic population.

Experts say that the most common cause of diabetes is lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise or physical activities, obesity, unhealthy eating specially with sweets and soda and stress.

While a lot of people may be preoccupied with preparations from different epidemic diseases that are terrifying, isn’t it about time that we also give as much attention with diseases that are chronic in nature but may cause serious consequences on our health? One good example is diabetes. The sudden rise in Diabetes Mellitus cases is alarming and tells us that it is something that should not be ignored.

People affected with diabetes come from different walks of life – popular celebrities, rich and poor, old and young – anyone can be afflicted with it. Contrary to the common notion, eating sweets is not the only reason for diabetes onset. Anything in excess can be harmful to us and that is why we need to make sure that we take a close watch on our health by avoiding unhealthy lifestyle which can help manage, if not prevent, the onset of diabetes mellitus.