Introduction
On its March 19, 2012 issue, Science Daily News wrote an article about the latest development on the research about remedies for diabetes (Science Daily, 2012). An artificial pancreatic implant for patients suffering from type 1 diabetes is already at its testing phase. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already issued approval on the clinical test for the device developed by the UVA School of Medicine. The hand-held apparatus was created with the intention to help patients monitor their sugar level without the necessity of having them admitted at hospitals. Not only will the device will give the users update on their sugar levels but also will give them a dose of insulin in case they need it.
The outpatient approval given to the so-called artificial pancreas device was issued because of the promising results shown by the in-patients undergoing the experiment. According to the head of the research team, Boris Kovatchev, the consent given by the U.S. government is another crucial step on their effort to find remedy for diabetes.
Diabetes has become one of the most prevailing health diseases today. Statistic shows that 8.3% of America’s populations are suffering from this ailment. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes ranks number seven among the most threatening diseases which causes high mortality levels as of the year 2011 (CDC, 2011).
Diabetes is an insulin related deficiency. Our body needs sugar, specifically glucose, to maintain our energy level and to replenish depleted cells. For our body to be able to absorb glucose, it must be broken down into its simple form. Pancreas secretes this fluid called insulin, therefore, it is important that pancreas functions normally to provide enough amount of insulin. In case of failure, sugar forms in the blood causing various complications which can impair our health.
Causes and Severity of Diabetes
Diabetes alone is not very serious and life threatening, but the complications arising from diabetes can be life threatening. If not given proper and immediate cure, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, and heart disease and lower-body amputations. Symptoms include very dry skin due to loss of water into the cells, feeling exhausted most of the time even without doing any heavy tasks, extreme hunger and feeling thirsty oftentimes, frequent but small amount of urination, and unusual infections.
Diabetes has different stages including type 1 (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), type 2 (adult-onset diabetes), gestational (pregnancy related diabetes), and other type of diabetes caused by either genetic or environmental factors.
Diabetes has become a serious public health issue because it knows no age, gender and races. As mentioned earlier, it is recognized number seven among the top dreaded condition. Based on statistics, women are more at risks for having diabetes and to die because of its complication. Women who have above normal sugar level in their body die because of heart attack. Moreover, pregnant women are highly at risks of developing diabetes due to their condition. Because of the hormonal changes happening when fetus develops inside the womb, insulin production is also affected. This type of diabetes (gestational) harm, not only the mother, but also the development of the baby.
Type 2 diabetes is famous to American Indians, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latino Americans and Pacific Islanders individuals. Adults, specifically the older ones are also prone to having this kind of condition. when you are diagnosed of being type 2 diabetic, your body is either not producing the right amount of insulin or your body cells refuses to absorb it.
Meanwhile, Type 1 diabetes is caused of genetic traits, viral infections and other environmental factors. This is the most severe type of the illness because it means our pancreas is no longer capable of producing insulin.
Intervention
Because of the alarming effect of diabetes (regardless of its specific type) in our society, various agencies and professionals conduct different researches to find solution on the situation. One of them is the National Diabetes Prevention Program, a public and private partnership which consists of various professionals, organization, medical workers and government agencies. The program, headed by the National Institutes of Health, aims to provide the public with the information and updates about diabetes. They also offer a lifestyle syllabus to guide type 2 diabetic patient in their quest of managing their pain. American Diabetic Association is another private organization which helps different studies about diabetes in financial aspects.
Recommendation
Diabetes is manageable. There is no reason why it should claim human life. Proper diet, healthy life-style, and medications can help maintain normal sugar level in our body.
Proper diet includes eating healthy foods and avoiding vices such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol beverages and carbonated drinks because this may contribute in abnormal functioning of our internal organs. Healthy life-style means going on a routine exercise, relaxation and avoiding fatigue causing activities such as unhealthy sleeping habits. Meanwhile, medication means regular doctor’s visit to monitor insulin levels, sugar amount and proper organ function.
In a recent study, a person can add blueberries, apples and pears in their regular diet because they found out that these items can reduce diabetic complications (Narayanan, 2012). These fruits are rich of flavonoid, a natural component that can help regulate sugar level in the blood.
When you are Type 1 diabetic patient, taking insulin is a must. A regular dose of it must be maintained; therefore it is important to visit the doctor regularly to monitor the condition. As mentioned above, an artificial pancreas in the form of a cell phone based device is already in its testing phase, and hopefully successful in order to help sufferers monitor their sugar and insulin level with less doctor’s intervention.
References
American Diabetes Association. About Us. Retrieved March 25, 2012, from http://www.diabetes.org/about-us/?loc=rednav
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes Public Health Resource. Retrieved March 24, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/learn.htm
Diabetes UK. What is Type 1 Diabetes? Retrieved March 25, 2012, from http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Introduction-to-diabetes/What_is_diabetes/What-is-Type-1-diabetes/
Narayanan, A. (March 16, 2012). Blueberries and Apples Tied to Lower Diabetes Risk. Retrieved March 25, 2012, from http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/16/us-diabetes-idUSBRE82F1A920120316
Science Daily (March 19, 2012). Type 1 Diabetes: Artificial Pancreas Approved for US Outpatient Testing. Retrieved March 24, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120319094405.htm
