Diabetes And Hearing Loss Among Americans Essay

Hearing loss continues to linger in the elderly population of today’s society. Yet, the onset of hearing loss can occur at any age and at any point in

Diabetes is a disease where the body is unable to produce or use insulin effectively. Insulin is needed for proper storage and use of carbohydrates. Without it, blood sugar levels can become too high or too low, resulting in a diabetic emergency. It affects about 7.8% of the population. The incidence of diabetes is known to increase with age. It’s the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the US, and is the primary cause of blindness and foot and leg amputation. It is known to cause neuropathy in up to 70% of diabetic patients. Individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

According to the United States Library of Medicine, diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body does not make or use insulin correctly, therefore causing fluctuating amounts of glucose in the blood. Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of adults and children from various cultures. According to the American Diabetes Association (2014), someone is diagnosed with diabetes every 19 seconds. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention most recent statistical report indicated there were 29.1 million adults and children affected by diabetes. Those numbers are astounding. Unfortunately, the American Diabetes Association (2014) estimates by year of 2050, one out of three adults will have diabetes. Therefore, it is imperative that adults take aggressive measures to prevent this disease. By the same token, diabetes diagnosed in children and adolescent is becoming more prevalent every day. The American Diabetes Association (2014) reported there were about 216, 00 children in the United States with diabetes. It is predicted that one out three children will be diagnosed with diabetes in their life. The statistics for both adults and children with diabetes are frightening; however, early detection can help lower the risk of developing the debilitating effects of diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, more Americans die each year from diabetes than from AIDS and breast cancer combined. As a result, researchers have extensively studied the causes, treatments, and interventions for diabetes. Despite efforts to ameliorate its effects, diabetes remains a prevalent danger in society. In 2014, 7% of U.S. adults were living with diagnosed diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016). In Louisiana that number was even higher - 10.4% of adults have been diagnosed with diabetes. Breaking it down by age group, however, in Louisiana 3% of people aged 18 and 44 have been diagnosed, and 15.2% of people 45-64. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015a). Several studies have predicted future rates of diabetes both in the United States and worldwide - nearly all of these studies reached a similar conclusion: rates of diabetes will continue to rise (Boyle et al., 2001).

Uncontrolled diabetes can affect nearly every organ of the body; of which, heart disease and kidney failure are most commonly impacted. Known as diabetes mellitus, a collective term for various blood abnormalities, the term diabetes refers to either a scarcity of insulin in the body or the body’s inability to accept insulin. Though the symptoms of diabetes are manageable, many are unaware as to having it. According to the CDC report “2011 Diabetes Fact Sheet,” approximately 6 million people in the United States have undiagnosed diabetes. Undetected, diabetes can become deadly. In a recent World Health Organization report “Diabetes Action Now: An Initiative of the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Federation,” it

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a pandemic that affects millions of people. The growth rate of unrecognized pre-diabetes in America is expected to rise up to 52% by 2020 (Lorenzo, 2013). As the prevalence of diabetes increases, so will the complications and burden of the disease. One of the leading causes for cardiovascular disease, renal failure, nontraumatic lower limb amputations, stroke, and new cases of blindness is DM (Lorenzo, 2013).

Diabetes affects over 180 million people in the US and is projected that by 2025 this figure will increase to 300 million.

Diabetes is a growing concern and health challenge for the American people (b). Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot react to insulin appropriately or either cannot produce insulin efficiently (w). “Without a properly functioning insulin signaling system, blood glucose levels become elevated and other metabolic abnormalities occur, leading to the development of serious, disabling complications” (w). There are numerous forms of diabetes amongst the nation, however, there are three main forms of diabetes. Most people have heard of type one diabetes, type two diabetes, and gestational diabetes because they are common. Type two diabetes deals with a resistance to insulin, while

Diabetes continues to be a growing problem for the United States population especially type 2 diabetes, which “accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes”(Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2014). Type 2 diabetes, formally known as adult onset diabetes, is defined as a “disorder of insulin resistance in which the cells primarily within the muscle, liver, and fat tissue do not use insulin properly. As the need for insulin rises the cells in the pancreas gradually lose the ability to produce enough hormone”(CDC, 2014). Diabetes as a whole affects about “9.3% of the US population or 29.1 million people” (American Diabetes Association (ADA), 2014; CDC, 2014). Despite the high prevalence of the disease, it is only going to continue to grow if nothing is done to correct the problem. The “United States spent an estimated $245 billion on diabetes in 2012” (ADA, 2014; CDC, 2014). This outrageous number and the drastic impact diabetes has on health should emphasis the need to reduce the diabetic population in the future.

Type I Diabetes was once referred to as Juvenile Diabetes or Insulin Dependent type Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). Type 1 diabetes, is an incurable but treatable disease which can occur at any age but is mostly found in children. Couch et al. (2008) states, “Juvenile diabetes affects about 1 in every 400-600 children and more than 13,000 are diagnosed yearly” (pg. 1). A 2014 CDC fact sheet concerning diabetes, showed that, “In adults, type 1 diabetes accounts for approximately 5% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes in the United States.” It seems that we all know someone who is affected by diabetes; either type 1 or type 2. Diabetes seems to be such a common-place illness and is much more prevalent in today’s society. However, this hasn’t always been the case. Gale (2002), states, “At the start of the 20th century, childhood diabetes was rare… (pg. 3353).” In this paper, I will provide information about Juvenile or Type I diabetes in order to educate the reader about this illness.

Hearing loss is the most common physical disability in the whole wide world. In the United States alone, about 28 million people have some level of hearing impairment that interferes with their ability to understand normal speech and participate in conversations. Another 2 million cannot hear at all.

If not corrected by the year 2050, 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes. The cost on the medical system to prevent and treat this population by 2007 was reported to be as high as $218 billion. It is imperative to continue research to prevent current state of disease for some but also to prevent secondary medical complications, which can include other organs and disease (Fonseca et al.,

Studies indicate that 13 million people have access to medication, but the remaining 5.2 million remains undiagnosed (Hynes 2). High levels of type 2 diabetes mellitus have been reported in children and adolescents among many geographical regions of the world. Hillier and Pedula projected that by 2020, type 2 diabetes mellitus will exceed the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in the United States (1). Between 1967 and 1998, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus doubled among the Pima Indian youths (Pavkov et al. 1).

As the rate of diagnosed diabetes cases continues to increase, health care workers are presented with the challenge of preventing additional cases and managing current cases. It is predicted that nearly 1 out of 3 adults in the United States will be diagnosed with diabetes by the year 2050 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011a). If left untreated, diabetes can lead to life-threatening complications that can affect many organ systems including the kidneys, heart, vascular system, eyes and nervous system. While quality of life is greatly affected, diabetes and its complications also produce a heavy financial burden for both patients and health care institutions (CDC, 2011a). Due to the increase in the number of diagnosed cases

Diabetes is a major problem in our society today. Many people have heard about the disease; however, they do not know too much about its complications. Diabetes is a chronic, progressive and lifelong condition that affects the body’s ability to use the energy found in food (WebMD, 2016). Many new cases are confirmed every year and unfortunately, many go undiagnosed for years. Diabetes is a serious disease and need to be taking seriously. The disease can lead to many other health problems such as blindness, nerve damage and kidney diseases. The more the community understand and made aware of the seriousness of the disease, the better it can be control and or prevented.