Diabetes is a Public Health Epidemic Research Paper

Diabetes is a Public Health Epidemic - Research Paper Example In this paper, we will also discuss the role that the government should play in order to reduce the health concerns related to Diabetes. We will argue in this paper that diabetes is a public health epidemic that needs to be addressed on a governmental level. There are governmental programs and legislations that should be passed to help reduce the prevalence of Diabetes in the younger population. Also many other public and private measures should be taken to reduce health concerns related to Diabetes especially in younger generation. Diabetes in Youth and its types Medical practitioners have shown their deep interest in the study of diabetes in youth despite the fact that the probability of children (under the age of twenty) getting this disease is very low. According to the survey of Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP), there were around 18.2 million cases of diabetes in the United States in 2002 (Steno Diabetes research group, 120-134). Out of these, 206,000 were in peopl e under the age of 20. Though this may seem very low as compared to the total number of cases of diabetes, it has become more prevalent in youth. Unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical exercise are major reasons why many of the children today are overweight and obese, and are at a higher risk of developing this disease. Generally there are three types of diabetes out which two of them affect the children most. They are discusses below in detail. Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile-onset diabetes. It is a type of diabetes in which body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The insulin is a chemical produced in the pancreas that converts food into energy. The body cannot function without insulin. To carry out the daily routine functions, it is important that our body constantly produces insulin. Type 1 diabetes generally strikes the children at a very young age and it is usually passed genetically. Type 1 diabetes pati ents require insulin for their survival. There are many ways through which the patients can in-take insulin such as syringes, insulin pumps and injectable pens. The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are loss of weight, constant feeling of hunger, increase in urine and thirst, blurred vision and exhaustion. Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes, also known as adult onsets, is the most common type of diabetes. It is usually diagnosed in people who are above the ages of 35. The primary cause of type 2 diabetes is basically a critical medical condition called insulin resistance (Blonde and Lawrence, 123-150). Insulin resistance means that the body is able to produce insulin in the pancreas but is unable to work effectively. Approximately 85 to 90 percent of the diabetic people have type 2 diabetes. One thing that is very important to mention is that the type 2 diabetes is associated with heart disease and if not treated appropriately, the situation can become worst. Therefore it is necessary that t he patient should take proper diet, walk, and exercise so as to maintain the normal diabetic level. It is important to mention here that both types of diabetes are independent of age. They may affect a person at any age so it is important that certain precautionary measures are taken to avoid both types of diabetes. Relationship between childhood obesity and childhood diabetes Over the past few years childhood