In recent decades, the problem of diabetes has become more common and affects different age groups, from children to the elderly. Trends in improved medical care and the development of technology and medicine are certainly contributing to the reduction of the problem. However, diabetes is still an extremely serious health problem that should be given more attention.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that greatly impacts many bodily functions. The advancement of medicine and medical technologies has improved the quality of life for patients with a diagnosis, but there is still a lack of focus on combating the problem itself. Diabetes has increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million today (Forouhi 22). Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and lower limb amputations (Saeedi). Diabetes mortality increased by 3% by age group between 2000 and 2019 (Cole 378). Diabetes and diabetes-related kidney disease killed approximately 2 million people in 2019 (Harding 4). This suggests that the measures taken to combat the diabetes problem are insufficient.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body cannot effectively use the insulin produced. The rising diabetes death rate among people under 70 underscores the need to focus more on the issue. Diabetes affected 8.5% of adults aged 18 and up in 2014 (Pettus 912). Diabetes was the direct cause of 1.5 million deaths in 2019, with 48% occurring before age 70 (Pettus 912). It should also be noted that not all diabetes-related deaths are recorded, as elevated blood glucose is responsible for many cardiovascular deaths.
All of the above indicates the seriousness of the problem of diabetes and insufficient attention to it. Improvement requires increased advocacy and awareness of risk groups and prevention among people to become familiar with the causes and ways to prevent diabetes. Bringing more organizations to the attention of the problem can be decisive in its improvement.
Works Cited
Cole, Joanne B., and Jose C. Florez. “Genetics of diabetes mellitus and diabetes complications.” Nature reviews nephrology, vol. 16, no. 7, 2020, pp. 377-390.
Forouhi, Nita Gandhi, and Nicholas J. Wareham. “Epidemiology of diabetes.” Medicine, vol. 47, no. 1, 2019, pp. 22-27.
Harding, Jessica L., et al. “Global trends in diabetes complications: a review of current evidence.” Diabetologia, vol. 62, no. 1, 2019, pp. 3-16.
Pettus, Jeremy, and Neil Skolnik. “Importance of diabetes management during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Postgraduate Medicine, vol. 133, no. 8, 2021, pp. 912-919.
Saeedi, Pouya, et al. “Mortality attributable to diabetes in 20–79 years old adults, 2019 estimates: Results from the International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas.” Diabetes research and clinical practice, vol. 162, 2020.