Chronic Disease Paper
Chronic Disease Paper
A chronic disease is one that has symptoms that recur over and over, and can become better or worse over time. These types of diseases, “…cannot generally be cured, but an individual can often minimize the negative effects of a chronic disease through sane, healthy living and medical treatment.” (MSUcares.com, 2005) Diabetes is just one chronic disease that affects many people in this country. To begin, a brief discussion will follow describing what diabetes is, what risk factors and incidences are involved, and symptoms to look for. In addition to providing treatment options and prevention strategies, a look at how nutrition and exercise impact the prognosis of diabetes may show more ways to live longer and healthier lives. Diabetes is a chronic disease that causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin or not produce enough insulin. Insulin is the hormone that helps breakdown and monitor carbohydrates and fats consumed in a person’s diet. Too much insulin or not enough: can cause many parts of the body to shut down or not work properly such as the kidneys or eyesight. (Hales, 2003, pg. 462) Diabetes is broken down into two groups: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 means a person has an insulin deficiency, whereas type 2 diabetes means a person is producing too much insulin. The imbalance can cause glucose to become too high in the blood and too low for the cells, which means whatever is not used is passed through the urine. This can cause the body to use stored fat as a source of energy that results in ketones being produced (acids). (Hales, 2003, pg. 462) Having a risk factor for diabetes does not mean that a person will develop diabetes but, the more risk factors a person has increases the chance of having it. Over 20.8 million people in the U.S. have diabetes but, only 14.6 million of these populations have actually been diagnosed. This means that just over 6 million people have no idea they have this high risk and quickly
A chronic disease is one that has symptoms that recur over and over, and can become better or worse over time. These types of diseases, “…cannot generally be cured, but an individual can often minimize the negative effects of a chronic disease through sane, healthy living and medical treatment.” (MSUcares.com, 2005) Diabetes is just one chronic disease that affects many people in this country. To begin, a brief discussion will follow describing what diabetes is, what risk factors and incidences are involved, and symptoms to look for. In addition to providing treatment options and prevention strategies, a look at how nutrition and exercise impact the prognosis of diabetes may show more ways to live longer and healthier lives. Diabetes is a chronic disease that causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin or not produce enough insulin. Insulin is the hormone that helps breakdown and monitor carbohydrates and fats consumed in a person’s diet. Too much insulin or not enough: can cause many parts of the body to shut down or not work properly such as the kidneys or eyesight. (Hales, 2003, pg. 462) Diabetes is broken down into two groups: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 means a person has an insulin deficiency, whereas type 2 diabetes means a person is producing too much insulin. The imbalance can cause glucose to become too high in the blood and too low for the cells, which means whatever is not used is passed through the urine. This can cause the body to use stored fat as a source of energy that results in ketones being produced (acids). (Hales, 2003, pg. 462) Having a risk factor for diabetes does not mean that a person will develop diabetes but, the more risk factors a person has increases the chance of having it. Over 20.8 million people in the U.S. have diabetes but, only 14.6 million of these populations have actually been diagnosed. This means that just over 6 million people have no idea they have this high risk and quickly
References: American Diabetes Association. (n.d.) All about diabetes. American Diabetes Association. Retrieved March 24, 2007 from Online American Diabetes Association Web Site: http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp Hales, D. (2003). An invitation to health. (10th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. MSUcares.com. (2003, March 5). What is chronic disease? MSUcares.com. Retrieved March 26, 2007 from Online Mississippi State University Web Site: http://msucares.com/health/health/chronicfaq1.html webMD. (2005). Diabetes: Are you at risk? webMD.com. Retrieved March 25, 2007 from Online webMD Web Site: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/59/66831