Research-Paper-on-Diabetes-Mellitus - Research Paper on...

Research Paper on Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus Research Essay
Abstract
Diabetes is a disease that affects 18.2 million people in the United States
alone. This disease results when there is a high level of sugar in the blood for
an extended period of time. It can be controlled by diet, exercise, pills and
insulin injections. There are three main types of diabetes--Type I, which
affects primarily the younger population; Type II, which primarily affects the
population above 40; and gestational diabetes, which affects women during the
third trimester of their pregnancy. While scientists do not know what causes
diabetes, they do know that it is caused from a variety of factors that can vary
from person to person. Examples of these factors are heredity, being overweight,
and problems with beta cells, which are located in the pancreas. Diabetes can
result in blurred vision, retinopathy, nerve problems, dry skin, and kidney
issues. Diet plays a major role in the prevention of these problems. Sugar
concentration in the blood is a major factor for diabetics, so understanding the
sugar content of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates is essential. The goal from a
diet perspective is to control your sugar in your bloodstream in such a way that
the insulin in your bloodstream can manage it efficiently. In addition to diet,
medication and exercise play a key role in controlling this disease. Currently,
there is no known cure for diabetes.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Defined
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease where the blood in the body contains a
high sugar level. This disease is caused by the body's inability to use insulin
properly, or the inability to manufacture insulin altogether. There are times
when it can be caused by both factors. "Diabetes is the leading cause of
blindness, kidney failure, and leg amputations. In fact, it is the third leading
cause of death in the United States." (Magee, 1999 p. 2)
The Normal Process
When you eat a meal, your body begins the digestion process. The food breaks
down and enters the bloodstream in the form of sugars. Once the sugars are
circulating in your blood, the cells need to be able to admit the sugar. A
hormone called insulin is the factor that makes this possible. Once the insulin
lets the sugar into the cells, it is used to produce energy.
The Failure
Taking insulin out of the equation, the cells in your body cannot use sugar as
they would normally. Consequently, they do not get enough energy. Not only do
they not get enough energy, the sugar builds up in the blood because it has
nowhere to go. When the sugar level in the blood rises to high levels and stays
there for extended periods of time, the result is diabetes.
Insulin Defined. All of the cells in a person's body are enclosed in a membrane.