Diabetes Facts

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Diabetes Mellitus is defined as a group of diseases, characterized by increased blood sugar levels. It must be known that diabetes is caused by defects in producing, or responding to the hormone insulin. Type 1 Diabetes is basically caused by genetic factors, and some unknown factors such as a previous viral illness. Type 2 Diabetes on the other hand, is caused by the body not being responsive to insulin. Consuming too much sugar can make you gain weight, which will increase your chances of developing diabetes.

The history of diabetes dates back to 1425, when its word was derived. Even the risk factors such as obesity and sedentary lifestyles were identified in around the 6th Century BC. The Persians gave an in-depth detail on diabetes, and most of the credit here goes to Avicenna, who provided a detailed account of the disease in the canons of medicine, describing the disease as that of an abnormal appetite, impairment of sexual functions and sweet taste of a diabetic's urine. He also diagnosed and described diabetic gangrene.

Factually, obese and overweight people are at a higher risk to develop diabetes, than non-obese people. It is not a contagious disease, and the reason why you may have diabetes is if either of your parents has it, because genetics plays an important role in the development of diabetes.

Epidemiological facts are important to be discussed for diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, 171 million people or 2.8% of the world’s population suffered from diabetes in 2000 and the number is expected to double by 2030. It is now considered  an epidemic according to the Centre of Disease and Control (CDC). The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse states that diabetes has an economic burden of $132 billion in the United States alone.

In United States, 5-10 % of the diabetic population suffers from Type 1 Diabetes, while the rest suffers from Type 2 Diabetes. The American Diabetes Association states that 18.3% population over 60 is suffering from diabetes. The figures add up to around 18.3 million of the population.

Diabetes has become such a prevalent disease, that the American Diabetes Association publishes a monthly journal with the same name of the disease, which covers all the researches that are being conducted relating to the pathology and path physiology of the disease.

Over the years, research has concluded that there is no cure for the disease discovered till yet. No single patient that has been able to outgrow or get cured of the disease. A person either has diabetes or he does not have diabetes. Children with Type I Diabetes, have to take insulin throughout their lives, while people who are suffering from Type II Diabetes, need some oral medications to make their body receptors get sensitized to insulin.
To conclude, diabetes is a group of diseases that still needs to be researched, and a lot of work needs to be done on the disease, in order to decrease the devastating complications, and its mortality.