how to prevent diabetes essay writing in english

Essay on Diabetes for Students and Children

500+ words essay on diabetes.

Diabetes is a very common disease in the world. But people may never realize, how did they get diabetes and what will happen to them and what will they go through. It may not be your problem but you have to show respect and care for the one who has diabetes. It can help them and also benefited you to know more about it and have a better understanding of it. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which is identified by the high blood sugar level. Increased blood glucose level damages the vital organs as well as other organs of the human’s body causing other potential health ailments.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes  Mellitus can be described in two types:

Description of two types of Diabetes Mellitus are as follows

1) Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is classified by a deficiency of insulin in the blood. The deficiency is caused by the loss of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes is found more commonly in children. An abnormally high or low blood sugar level is a characteristic of this type of Diabetes.

Most patients of type 1 diabetes require regular administration of insulin. Type 1 diabetes is also hereditary from your parents. You are most likely to have type 1 diabetes if any of your parents had it. Frequent urination, thirst, weight loss, and constant hunger are common symptoms of this.

2) Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is characterized by the inefficiency of body tissues to effectively respond to insulin because of this it may be combined by insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common type of diabetes in people.

People with type 2 diabetes mellitus take medicines to improve the body’s responsiveness to insulin or to reduce the glucose produced by the liver. This type of diabetes mellitus is generally attributed to lifestyle factors like – obesity, low physical activity, irregular and unhealthy diet, excess consumption of sugar in the form of sweets, drinks, etc.

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Causes of Diabetes

By the process of digestion, food that we eat is broken down into useful compounds. One of these compounds is glucose, usually referred to as blood sugar. The blood performs the job of carrying glucose to the cells of the body. But mere carrying the glucose to the cells by blood isn’t enough for the cells to absorb glucose.

This is the job of the Insulin hormone. Pancreas supply insulin in the human body. Insulin acts as a bridge for glucose to transit from blood to the body cells. The problem arises when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or the body cells for some reason do not receive the glucose. Both the cases result in the excess of glucose in the blood, which is referred to as Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Most common symptoms of diabetes are fatigue, irritation, stress, tiredness, frequent urination and headache including loss of strength and stamina, weight loss, increase in appetite, etc.

Levels of Diabetes

There are two types of blood sugar levels – fasting blood sugar level and postprandial blood sugar level. The fasting sugar level is the sugar level that we measure after fasting for at least eight hours generally after an overnight fast. Blood sugar level below 100 mg/dL before eating food is considered normal. Postprandial glucose level or PP level is the sugar level which we measure after two hours of eating.

The PP blood sugar level should be below 140 mg/dL, two hours after the meals. Though the maximum limit in both the cases is defined, the permissible levels may vary among individuals. The range of the sugar level varies with people. Different people have different sugar level such as some people may have normal fasting sugar level of 60 mg/dL while some may have a normal value of 90 mg/dL.

Effects of Diabetes

Diabetes causes severe health consequences and it also affects vital body organs. Excessive glucose in blood damages kidneys, blood vessels, skin resulting in various cardiovascular and skin diseases and other ailments. Diabetes damages the kidneys, resulting in the accumulation of impurities in the body.

It also damages the heart’s blood vessels increasing the possibility of a heart attack. Apart from damaging vital organs, diabetes may also cause various skin infections and the infection in other parts of the body. The prime cause of all type of infections is the decreased immunity of body cells due to their inability to absorb glucose.

Diabetes is a serious life-threatening disease and must be constantly monitored and effectively subdued with proper medication and by adapting to a healthy lifestyle. By following a healthy lifestyle, regular checkups, and proper medication we can observe a healthy and long life.

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From Research to Reflection: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an Essay on Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by high blood glucose levels, which can lead to various complications if left untreated. One of the most significant complications of diabetes is its impact on cardiovascular health.

The link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease is well-established. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those without the disease.

The reasons for this are complex, but they include that diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, including those that supply the heart and brain. This can lead to a range of cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease .

We can guarantee you that most people are not even aware of this much information on diabetes. This is why writing an essay on diabetes makes sense.

What’s more, while writing an essay on diabetes, you make yourself aware of this disease and work towards reflecting on it.

Influence Of Diabetes On The Society

Diabetes can have a significant impact on society in a number of ways.

Here are some examples:

• Healthcare costs: Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires ongoing medical care, including regular check-ups, medications, and in some cases, hospitalization. The cost of treating diabetes can be substantial, both for individuals and for society as a whole. In 2017, the total cost of diabetes in the US was estimated to be $327 billion, including direct medical costs and lost productivity.
• Public health: Diabetes is a major public health issue , with an estimated 463 million adults worldwide living with the disease. Diabetes can lead to various health complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness. As a result, diabetes is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.
• Lifestyle changes: Diabetes is closely linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity. As a result, efforts to prevent or manage diabetes often involve promoting healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise and a balanced diet. These lifestyle changes can have a broader impact on society by promoting overall health and well-being.
• Stigma: Diabetes can be stigmatized, with some people blaming individuals with diabetes for their disease. This can lead to discrimination and social isolation, which can have a negative impact on mental health and well-being.
• Education and awareness: Diabetes education and awareness campaigns can play an important role in reducing the impact of diabetes on society. By promoting an understanding of the disease and its risk factors and encouraging early diagnosis and treatment, these campaigns can help to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Diabetes can significantly impact society, both in terms of healthcare costs and public health outcomes. By promoting education and awareness and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits, we can work to reduce the impact of diabetes on individuals and society as a whole.

Why Such A Subject?

While there are many subjects to write essays on, why write an essay on such a difficult subject? Well, when an educational institution asks you to write an essay, they look at your writing skills and try to figure out your personality along with it.

If you are writing about something that can bring change in society, it can impress them. Writing an essay on diabetes will allow you to stand out from all the other students who have submitted essays on almost the same topic.

Below are a few reasons why writing an essay on diabetes is a good idea.

• To Raise Awareness: Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide, yet many people are still unaware of its causes, symptoms, and complications. Writing an essay on diabetes can help raise awareness about the disease, its impact on individuals and communities, and the importance of prevention and management.
• To Educate: Diabetes is a complex disease that requires careful management and monitoring. Writing an essay on diabetes can help educate individuals about the different types of diabetes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, and treatment options.
• To Promote Research: There is ongoing research on diabetes, including new treatments and management strategies. Writing an essay on diabetes can help promote research by highlighting the importance of funding and supporting research efforts.
• To Advocate For Change: Writing an essay on diabetes can help advocate for policy changes that improve access to diabetes care, support for those with diabetes, and prevention efforts.
• To Demonstrate Understanding: Writing an essay on diabetes can be an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of the disease and its impact on individuals and communities. It can also showcase critical thinking skills and research abilities.

Writing an essay on diabetes can help raise awareness, educate, promote research, advocate for change, and demonstrate an understanding of the disease. It can be an important way to promote public health and improve the lives of individuals with diabetes.

A Step-by-Step Guide To Writing An Essay On Diabetes

Writing an essay on diabetes requires thorough research and reflection. You can’t just proceed with a diabetes essay like any normal essay topic. When writing an essay on diabetes, you can’t get wrong with your facts and information. One mistake in your information can affect your whole efforts.

When you are doing research for your essay, ensure that you are picking information from credible resources.

Follow the steps below to write a high-quality essay.

Step 1: Choose A Specific Topic

The topic of diabetes is vast, so it is essential to narrow it down to a specific area you can thoroughly explore in your essay. Consider the audience, the essay’s purpose, and the assignment’s scope. For instance, you could focus on the causes of diabetes, the different types of diabetes, the impact of diabetes on a particular population, or the latest treatment options for diabetes.

Step 2: Conduct Research

Once you have a specific topic, conduct thorough research to gather relevant information from credible sources such as academic journals, government publications, and reputable websites. Take notes on key points, statistics, and quotes that you can use to support your arguments.

Step 3: Develop A Thesis Statement

Based on your research, develop a clear and concise thesis statement that summarizes the main argument of your essay. Your thesis statement should be debatable and provide a roadmap for the rest of your essay.

Step 4: Create An Outline

Use your research and thesis statement to create an outline for your essay. Organize your ideas into logical sections and subsections, and ensure each point supports your thesis statement.

Step 5: Write The Essay

Using your outline as a guide, write your essay. Start with an introduction that provides background information and a clear thesis statement. Use the body paragraphs to present your arguments and support them with evidence from your research. End with a conclusion that restates your thesis and summarizes your main points.

Step 6: Edit And Proofread

After you have written your essay, edit and proofread it carefully to ensure it is clear, concise, and error-free. Check for spelling and grammatical errors, and ensure your ideas flow logically.

Step 7: Reflect On Your Essay

Finally, take some time to reflect on your essay. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of your argument, and think about what you could have done differently. This reflection can help you improve your writing skills and prepare for future assignments.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can write a well-researched and thoughtful essay on diabetes. Remember to choose a specific topic, conduct thorough research, develop a clear thesis statement, create an outline, write the essay, edit and proofread, and reflect on your work.

However, if you find it difficult to write an essay on diabetes, but the opportunity is too good to miss, ask a professional to ‘ write my essay for me ’.

Things To Consider!

Define your purpose.

Before you start writing, it’s important to clarify why you’re writing about diabetes.

Are you trying to educate readers about the disease? Discuss a specific aspect of diabetes research or treatment. Argue for a particular approach to diabetes prevention or management.

Defining your purpose can help guide your writing and ensure that you stay focused on your main goals.

Know Your Audience

Who will be reading your essay? Are they experts in diabetes, or are they general readers who may not be familiar with the disease? Understanding your audience can help you tailor your writing style and language to make your essay as accessible and engaging as possible.

Research Thoroughly

Diabetes is a complex and multi-faceted disease, so it’s important to do your research to ensure you comprehensively understand the topic. Find reputable sources, such as peer-reviewed journals, government websites, or expert organizations like the American Diabetes Association.

Consider Multiple Perspectives

There are many different viewpoints on diabetes, from healthcare providers to patients to public health advocates. When writing your essay, consider different perspectives and present a balanced view of the topic.

Use Clear, Concise Language

Diabetes is a technical topic with many medical terms and concepts that may be unfamiliar to some readers. To make your essay as accessible as possible, try to use clear, concise language that is easy to understand. Use layman’s terms when appropriate, and define any technical terms you use.

Use Examples And Anecdotes

Diabetes can be a dry and technical topic, so using examples and anecdotes can help to bring your writing to life and make it more engaging for readers. Consider including real-life stories of people with diabetes or describing specific research studies or medical interventions in detail.

Edit And Proofread Carefully

Finally, edit and proofread your essay carefully before submitting it. Look for spelling and grammar errors and any unclear or confusing language. Consider having someone else read your essay to get a fresh perspective and catch any mistakes you may have missed.

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Essay on Diabetes

Students are often asked to write an essay on Diabetes in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Diabetes

What is diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body can’t control blood sugar levels. This happens because the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly.

Types of Diabetes

There are two main types: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is when the body doesn’t produce insulin. Type 2 is when the body doesn’t use insulin well.

Managing Diabetes

Diabetes can be managed through a healthy diet, regular exercise, and medication. Regular check-ups are also important to monitor blood sugar levels.

The Impact of Diabetes

If not managed, diabetes can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss.

250 Words Essay on Diabetes

Introduction.

Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder, is characterized by an increased level of glucose in the blood. It arises due to the body’s inability to produce or effectively utilize insulin, a hormone responsible for glucose regulation.

Etiology of Diabetes

Diabetes is classified into two major types: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder, is a result of the body’s immune system attacking insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes, the more prevalent form, is primarily associated with insulin resistance and often linked to obesity and sedentary lifestyle.

Impact and Management

Diabetes can lead to severe complications like heart disease, kidney failure, and blindness if left unmanaged. Management involves lifestyle modifications, including a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and medication or insulin therapy as needed.

Prevention and Future Research

Prevention strategies for Type 2 diabetes involve promoting healthier lifestyles and early detection. For Type 1 diabetes, research is still ongoing to understand its triggers. Advances in technology and medicine, such as artificial pancreas systems and islet cell transplantation, show promise for future diabetes management.

Diabetes, a global health crisis, requires comprehensive understanding and management strategies. With ongoing research and advancements, the future holds potential for improved diabetes care and prevention.

500 Words Essay on Diabetes

Introduction to diabetes.

There are primarily two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This type is less common and usually develops early in life. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is more prevalent and typically develops in adulthood. It occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough to maintain a normal glucose level.

Risk Factors and Symptoms

Several factors increase the risk of developing diabetes, including genetics, obesity, lack of physical activity, and poor diet. Additionally, certain ethnic groups are at a higher risk.

Management and Treatment

While there is currently no cure for diabetes, it can be effectively managed with a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight are crucial for managing both types of diabetes.

For Type 1 diabetes, insulin injections or use of an insulin pump are necessary. Type 2 diabetes can often be managed with lifestyle changes and oral medication, but insulin may be required as the disease progresses.

Complications and Prevention

Prevention strategies for Type 2 diabetes include regular physical activity, a healthy diet, maintaining a normal body weight, and avoiding tobacco use. Early detection through regular health screenings is also critical, as early treatment can prevent or delay the onset of complications.

Diabetes is a significant global health concern that requires concerted efforts for effective management and prevention. Understanding the disease, its risk factors, and the importance of early detection can go a long way in reducing the impact of this chronic condition. Through lifestyle changes and medical intervention, individuals with diabetes can lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

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Essay on Diabetes

Introduction

Diabetes is a healthcare condition that has continued to affect so many people, both young and old. Understanding more about Diabetes will help people live a healthy lifestyle by avoiding all the possible things that might cause it. In this assignment, I will assess why Diabetes is a significant health issue to individuals and the world. I will discuss the background of Diabetes, its definitions, and the types of Diabetes. Besides, I will discuss what is needed to promote individual and group health for people who have Diabetes. By the end of the assignment, one will have better knowledge about Diabetes since I will also discuss the causes and preventive measures that can be undertaken to prevent the disease. Towards the end of the assignment, I will describe three achievable health promotion goals, hence helping fight against Diabetes. I will also describe some of the interventions and roles that different people, groups, and organizations play to reduce the high cases of Diabetes in the world.

During the medieval ages, being diagnosed with Diabetes was like a death sentence. The pioneers of diabetes treatment were Thomas Willis, Sushruta, and Arataeus (Mandal, 2021). The three were Greek physicians who encouraged people to exercise on horsebacks to prevent excess urination. They also described other therapies like overfeeding and taking wine to reduce starvation and excessive loss of fluids (Mandal, 2021). On the other hand, the ancient Indians would test for Diabetes by taking ants near a person’s urine. If the human urine attracted the ants, then the person would be diagnosed with urine (Mandal, 2021). Diabetes is a disease that is the leading cause of high blood sugar levels. People who have Diabetes have bodies that cannot make enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use the insulin they have effectively (Healthline, 2021). Insulin is the hormone that moves sugars from the blood to the body cells. There are several types of Diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, prediabetes, and Diabetes insipidus (Healthine, 2021). All these types affect our bodies differently, and they all have different effects, hence different coping strategies.

The rationale for Choosing Diabetes

Diabetes is among the most severe health issues in the world. This is the reason why I chose to discuss it to create awareness about it. The bad thing with Diabetes is that one can get it and not know that they have it. By the time they realize that they have Diabetes, the condition is worse, and the person is highly affected. According to Genesis Medical Associates (2015), one out of three adults have higher blood sugar levels; a condition referred to as prediabetes. If the persons do not change their lifestyles, the sugar levels increase, leading to other types of Diabetes (Genesis Medical Associates, 2015). Learning about Diabetes will allow people to support each other in the fight against Diabetes. This includes eating healthy meals and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercising (Dowshen, 2021). Another reason why I chose to discuss Diabetes is to learn more about the causes and how to manage the disease. Since most people do not know about the condition, it is crucial to educate them so that in case they feel any symptoms, and they can get the treatment as early as possible (Dowshen, 2021). It is easy to deal with Diabetes as long as the signs are detected early enough and the patient follows the given guidelines on healthy living.

Epidemiology

Diabetes is a significant health concern since it affects so many people in the world. Diabetes can affect any person. However, some ethnic groups are affected more than others. The Alaska Natives and the American Indians are more affected by Diabetes as compared to all other ethnic groups. In terms of age, more than sixty-five years are more prone to getting diabetes than young people. According to Shaikh (2021), % of the people who are more than 65 years have diabetes. However, the young people are also affected but at a meager percentage compared to the older people.

The risk factors for Type 1 diabetes are hereditary, hence easily transferred from parents to children. Type 1 diabetes primarily affects young children and teenagers. Also, white Americans are at a higher risk of getting the disease than African Americans and Latino Americans (Shaikh, 2021). Type 2 diabetes affects middle and old age persons. Also, other risk factors for type 2 diabetes include genes, being overweight, a history of gestational pregnancy, and giving birth to a baby that is more than 9lbs (Shaikh, 2021).

It is important to note that diabetes is more prone in rural areas where people do not have access to health services and education. In the United Kingdom, 28% of the people with diabetes have issues obtaining medication due to a lack of health services and knowledge on how to go about diabetes treatment (Whicher et al., 2019 p.243). Besides, most of the people who are in the rural do not go for annual health checkups; hence their conditions get worse daily.

Assessment and assessment tools for Diabetes

Different tools are used during the assessment of diabetes. Assessing diabetes is very important as it helps differentiate between different types of diabetes and the extent of the condition. The Diabetes Prevention Screening Tool helps identify the persons at risk of getting diabetes (Diabetes Education Services, 2021). Such people are encouraged to join the CDC prevention program. There is also the Risk Test for Pre Diabetes patients to understand the risks they face as pre-diabetics (Diabetes Education Services, 2021).

The Diabetes Risk calculator is a tool that is used to detect undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes. The social Support Assessment Tool helps diabetic patients to have a support system (Diabetes Initiative, 2020). Patients who have Diabetes need a lot of support from family and friends. The support shown will help them adhere to the doctor’s instructions, hence improving the chances of being better. Another assessment is the Mental Health Progress Report. The report is filled up during the patient’s follow-up visits. The assessment involves questions determining if the patient is affected by the condition mentally (Diabetes Initiative, 2020). It helps the doctors to guide the patient on how they can cope mentally with Diabetes.

Health Promotion Goals that you will like to Achieve

One of the goals that I would like to achieve is to reduce the high number of people diagnosed with Diabetes. I will encourage people to ensure they exercise at least thirty minutes a day to become physically fit. To make this goal achievable, I will create small groups that will act as support systems. This will help push people towards healthy living, preventing them from being diagnosed with the condition (Cecelia Health, 2021). My goal is realistic since it is easy to adopt a good eating habit and exercise at least thirty minutes daily. Still, it becomes easier when these activities are done in groups so that members feel motivated. To ensure that the goal is achieved, I will set a time frame of three months. Each member must have dropped at least 10 pounds within three months and managed to exercise at least 30 minutes daily, consistently.

The second goal is to enhance a better diabetes management program. Most people who have diabetes do not know what they should avoid, while others ignore the advice given to them by the doctors. In this case, I will form a group of people of different ages who are diabetic. The group formed will be a support system that will help each other cope with Diabetes. I will encourage the group members to remain healthy by eating the right food and exercising daily (McDermott, 2020). For those that are older, they can do simple exercises like jogging and walking a few kilometers daily. After five months, I will assess each patient’s changes in sugar levels and the general healthcare status (McDermott, 2020). I expect the sugar levels to be expected or close to normal for most patients within this period. Besides, the patients will have adapted to the new lifestyle since they got used to it.

Interventions for your health promotion goals

As indicated above, the first goal is to reduce the high numbers of people diagnosed with diabetes. The first health intervention is by ensuring that people are engaging in vigorous activities and exercises. Before one retires to bed, they must ensure that they have done a bit of practice to increase the metabolic activities of their bodies (Harvard T.H CHAN, 2021). Exercising helps maintain a moderate weight; hence, the high obesity and overweight people will reduce significantly. Besides, exercise helps increase insulin sensitivity in the body. As a result, the body cells can consume the sugars that are in the bloodstream.

For this intervention to work, both individuals and groups work together. A person must know that they have a personal responsibility to ensure that they maintain healthy body weight. Besides, organizations can play a significant role by ensuring that they create team-building activities (Harvard T.H CHAN, 2021). Organizations can set a day or two per month whereby all the employees and employers are involved in various team-building activities. This will help to ensure that at least all members keep fit, even if some of the members might not be keeping fit at a personal level. Since young people are also at a very high risk of getting diabetes, schools should develop a schedule to see all the students engage in exercise activities (John Muir Health, 2021). For example, the school can decide to have a physical exercise lesson after every two days.

Another intervention that will see few people being diagnosed with diabetes is maintaining a healthy eating lifestyle. Most people, especially teenagers, eat food that is full of calories. First, one should ensure they increase the fiber intake (Science Daily, 2018). Fiber is essential as it helps to slow down the digestion of carbs and sugars. Foods that contain more fibers include legumes, vegetables, and whole grains. Too many carbs place a person at a very high risk of getting diabetes. Another healthy eating habit is taking plenty of water to stay hydrated at all times (John Muir Health, 2021). When one takes a lot of water, it also helps the kidney eliminate excess sugars through the urine (Science Daily, 2018). A well-hydrated person is at a lower risk of getting diabetes. However, one should avoid sugar-sweetened drinks as they raise the level of glucose in the blood.

Both individuals and organizations have a role to play when it comes to maintaining a healthy eating lifestyle. Families should ensure that they prepare meals that are balanced diet. As an individual, one has a choice to eat whatever they want. Following this, one should avoid taking foods with high carb content instead of increasing the intake of high fiber meals. Organizations should also participate in this intervention by preparing healthy meals for their employees (Science Daily, 2018). Communities should be encouraged to grow more fibers and take the origin foods rather than rely on ready-made foods with high calories. Also, schools can be involved by ensuring that they have a reasonable timetable for all the meals, and the fiber intake for each student should be higher than the carb intake.

The second goal is enhancing better management for people who are living with diabetes. Individuals have a tremendous responsibility to ensure that they follow the given guidelines to stabilize sugar levels efficiently. As a diabetic patient, one should know the type of diabetes they are suffering from and the measures they are supposed to take to become better (NIH, 2021). The first step that a diabetic person should take is to ensure that they are not stressed. Stress triggers sugar levels, hence raising them. To reduce stress triggers, one can listen to their favorite music, take a walk, breathing in and out, or doing their favorite activities (Diabetes UK, 2021). Also, a person needs to have a support system to reach out in case they feel stressed.

The second step that one can take to deal with diabetes is ensuring that they eat well. After being assessed by the doctor, a health care team should help the sick person come up with a meal plan (Diabetes UK, 2021). The meal plan should contain fewer calories, fewer sugars and salt, and high saturated fats. Also, a diabetic person should eat foods that have high fiber, like rice and bread. Instead of drinking sweetened juices, a diabetic person should ensure that they take plenty of clean drinking water. This helps to keep the body hydrated at all times.

Both individuals and groups have a significant role in ensuring that diabetic persons are taken care of. They have the necessary things needed for them to reduce sugar levels. Health facilities should make sure that they do follow-ups so that if a patient has forgotten to go for checkups, they can go upon being reminded. Besides, other organizations like NGOs should develop fiber for needy people who might not afford such things.

Evaluation of your Health Promotion Care

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise is not hard to achieve as long as the people involved know the benefits of exercising. Exercising is an effective strategy that will help prevent diabetes and prevent other diseases like heart attack and stroke (Diabetes UK, 2021). However, people should be allowed to choose the kind of exercise that they want to do. Instead of going for a run, one can engage in other activities like playing football, netball, or swimming (Harvard T.H CHAN, 2021). Since people are not the same, one should not be forced to go for a morning jog, yet they like swimming. If this is done, the exercises will be more effective since people will be doing them willingly. I would recommend that the government makes it paramount for organizations to have different days from engaging in other activities like swimming, running, jogging, etc. Also, schools should ensure that there are various exercises for all the students to have one or two activities that they can engage in easily.

The second promotion of care was encouraging people to eat healthy meals. From the above discussion, it is evident that people need to engage in healthy lifestyles. Whether a person has diabetes or not, engaging in a healthy lifestyle is very important (Science Daily, 2018. Following this, one should ensure that they avoid high calories and have high fibers. This healthcare plan can be effective only if the government and other non-governmental organizations are willing to provide the proper meals for the people in need. Some diabetic people do not have access to medical care; hence they cannot do follow-ups about their conditions. As a result, the health care plan will become hard to achieve if the doctors and health care workers do not follow up on their patients to ensure they have taken the right medicines and that the sugar levels are not increasing (John Muir Health, 2021. For this, I would recommend that treatment of diabetes becomes free of charge in all public healthcare institutions. This will make it easy for the poor diabetic people to go for checkups since they know they will not be asked for any money to get the services they need. During the Diabetes Awareness week in the country, the government led by the health care sector should ensure that people are educated about diabetes. This will help people learn more about it and engage in activities that will help reduce diseases.

Tannahill Health Promotion Model

The Tannahill Health Promotion Model helps in the prevention of diabetes and protection of people who have diabetes. As discussed above, diabetes can be prevented through eating the right foods and ensuring that one is physically fit. The Tannahill Health promotion strategy also suggests a good communication flow between the patient and the health care providers (Queens University Belfast, 2021). In this case, the healthcare providers should do the follow up’s for their patients. The third aspect of the Tannahill Health promotion program is that the citizens should be given health protection through the legislature, social measures, and financial measures (Queens University Belfast, 2021). This includes helping needy people eat healthy meals and ensuring that organizations and companies give their employees the proper meals. Besides, Companies, organizations, and schools should set aside specific days where each person is engaged in other activities like swimming, ring, and playing their favorite games.

Diabetes is indeed one of the most severe diseases in the world. Diabetes affects both the young and the old and people of all ages. Although people at the age of 65 and older are more prone to being diagnosed with diabetes, other factors also determine if a person is prone to getting diabetes (Healthline, 2021). For example, a child can get diabetes from their parents; hence they get hereditary diabetes. Women who have experienced gestational diabetes are also at a very high risk of contracting the disease again (Shaikh, 2021). People who are not physically fit are also prone to getting diabetes. Following this, it is evident that although some people are more prone to getting diabetes, several other factors play a significant role.

Although diabetes is a severe condition worldwide, it can be controlled and the high rates reduced. This can be achieved through two maintaining it; exercising and eating suitable meals. Since some people cannot afford the healthy diet recommended for diabetic people, the government and other non-governmental organizations can provide such meals to the people (Whicher et al., 2019 p.243. Also, ensuring that the medication services are accessible at the public hospitals will encourage most people to go for follow-ups. Exercising is easy since there are so many activities that help burn calories (Shaikh, 2021). That is why it is essential to let the person choose activities they are good at and concentrate on them. Generally, although diabetes is a serious condition, it is easy to prevent and manage it if all resources are available.

Cecelia Health, 2021.  How to Set and Achieve SMART Goals — in Life and Diabetes – Cecelia Health . [online] Cecelia Health. Available at: <https://www.ceceliahealth.com/how-to-set-and-achieve-smart-goals-in-life-and-diabetes/> [Accessed 1 June 2021].

Diabetes Education Services, 2021.  Screening Tools for Diabetes – Diabetes Education Services . [online] Diabetes Education Services. Available at: <https://diabetesed.net/screening-tools-for-diabetes/> [Accessed 1 June 2021].

Diabetes Initiative, 2020.  Tools: Assessment Instruments . [online] Diabetesinitiative.org. Available at: <http://www.diabetesinitiative.org/resources/type/assessmentInstruments.html> [Accessed 1 June 2021].

Diabetes UK, 2021.  10 Tips for Healthy Eating with Diabetes . [online] Diabetes UK. Available at: <https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/10-ways-to-eat-well-with-diabetes> [Accessed 1 June 2021].

Dowshen, S., 2021.  Diabetes Control: Why It’s Important (for Teens) – Nemours KidsHealth . [online] Kidshealth.org. Available at: <https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/diabetes-control.html> [Accessed 1 June 2021].

Genesis Medical Associates, 2015.  The Importance Of Understanding And Preventing Diabetes – Genesis Medical Associates, Inc . [online] Genesismedical.org. Available at: <https://www.genesismedical.org/blog/the-importance-of-understanding-and-preventing-diabetes> [Accessed 1 June 2021].

Harvard T.H CHAN, 2021.  Simple Steps to Preventing Diabetes . [online] The Nutrition Source. Available at: <https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/disease-prevention/diabetes-prevention/preventing-diabetes-full-story/> [Accessed 1 June 2021].

Healthline, 2021.  Everything You Need to Know About Diabetes . [online] Healthline. Available at: <https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes#:~:text=Diabetes%20mellitus%2C%20commonly%                                                                                 20known%20as,the%20insulin%20it%20does%20make.> [Accessed 1 June 2021].

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Essay on Diabetes in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Essay on Diabetes: Diabetes is a metabolic disease, in which the human body fails to utilize the sugar (glucose) content in blood, thus resulting in high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period of time. Sugar present in our blood is a carried by a hormone called Insulin, to the cells and stored or used as a source of energy. Diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the insulin is unable to effectively transfer the produced glucose to the body tissues.

Diabetes is a serious health concern and requires regular medical care. Most common symptoms of diabetes include – frequent urination, unusual weight loss, increased appetite and a desire to consume sweets.

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Long and Short Essay on Diabetes in English

Below we have provided long and short essay on diabetes of varying length on various aspects of diabetes. After going through the essay you will be able to speak or write on various issues like – causes, symptoms, types, levels and effects of diabetes.

It will also focus on diet that should be taken by a diabetic person and its effects on other vital organs of human body.

Also, you will know about the global spread of diabetes and its preventive measures as well as the significance of the World Diabetes Day.

You can choose any Diabetes essay of your choice from the essays given below and use the information in competitions, debates, class tests etc.

Short Essay on Diabetes –200 words

A Silent Threat to Humanity

Diabetes is a metabolic disease which is caused due to the excess of sugar (glucose) in human blood. It is also called as Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Our body produces a hormone – Insulin, which is primarily responsible for carrying glucose present in our blood to the cells to be stored and used as energy source. Problem occurs when either the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the insulin produced is somehow unable to effectively transfer the glucose from blood to the cells.

A persistent increased blood sugar level is a potential threat to the vital organs and other parts of human body. Initial symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, dizziness, weight loss, increased hunger etc. Diabetes may cause severe complications like – consciousness loss, kidney failure, brain stroke, foot ulcers and damage to the eyes.

Diabetes Mellitus has become the most common disease and around 425 million people globally are suffering from diabetes; out of which 82 million belong to the south-east Asian region. India, which is also a part of south-east Asia, has over seven crores cases of diabetes recorded annually.

With lifestyle changes and less physical exercise, more and more people are getting affected by diabetes. It is estimated that given to the present state of affairs, total number of diabetes patients in south-east Asia alone, will rise to 151 million.

Essay on Diabetes – 300 Words

Effects of Diabetes and Diabetes Day

Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disease caused due to the excess of blood sugar level in human body. An excessive quantity of sugar in blood, damages other vital organs like – kidney, heart and brain. Though, it is caused by the under production of insulin hormone by the pancreas, it is also a life style disease, caused due to unhealthy dietary habits and lack of physical exercise.

Effects of Diabetes on Health

Diabetes has wide range of effects on human body and health. It is the condition in which the glucose present in the human blood is somehow fails to be utilized as the source of energy. It could be either due to under production of insulin hormone, which carries sugar from blood to the cells, or it could be due to the unresponsiveness of cells to receive the sugar.

Whatever the reason may be, it results in excess blood sugar (glucose) content. Diabetes may potentially affect the vital organs like heart, kidney, brain and eyes. It may cause cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, kidney failure, hearing loss, bacterial and fungal skin infections and brain stroke.

World Diabetes Day and its Significance

Globally, around 425 million people are suffering from diabetes and the number is about to increase significantly in coming years if the preventive measures are not taken. Therefore, to raise awareness of people about diabetes, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) observes World Diabetes Day every year on 14 th November.

World Diabetes Day was first launched in 1991, as a counter measure to the increasing number of diabetes patients around the world.

Diabetes Mellitus is a global threat, with billions affected globally by it, it becomes imperative to raise public awareness about the causes, symptoms and effects of diabetes in order to effectively reduce the number of patients globally. Global events like World Diabetes Day play a significant role in freeing the world from Diabetes Mellitus.

Essay on Diabetes – 400 Words

Diabetes Mellitus and Kidney Problems

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition when human body is unable to effectively utilize the sugar (glucose) present in its blood ultimately leading to high blood glucose level. Blood is a vital body fluid that reaches all the body parts, and an abnormally high glucose level in blood could potentially damage the vital body organs and other body parts.

Causes and Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is identified by high sugar (glucose) content in human blood. Glucose is a source of energy for the body and is normally present in blood which supplies glucose to other parts of body. The body parts that receive glucose do so with help of a hormone called Insulin. As long as the pancreas normally produces insulin, the blood glucose level is maintained. But, an abnormality in insulin production or its inefficiency to effectively transfer the glucose to the body tissues, leads to excess of glucose in blood. This metabolic condition is identified as Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus.

Common symptoms of diabetes mellitus include tiredness, loss of stamina, sweating, persistent hunger, loss of weight and frequent urination. Any such symptoms must not be neglected and proper medical advice must be sought.

How Diabetes is Related to the Health of Kidney

Diabetes is one of the most common causes of kidney failure. Kidneys are the vital body organ which cleans the blood. A high content of glucose in blood damages the blood vessels of kidney, resulting in a medical condition called Diabetic Nephropathy.

With damaged blood vessels, your kidneys will not be able to effectively clean the blood, resulting in waste accumulation in your blood and body as well. This cycle continues, further damaging the kidneys and also other body parts. If the damage continues, it might result in serious complications including kidney failure.

The damage to the kidneys begins long before the other symptoms of diabetes actually appear. Patients suffering from diabetes should get their kidneys examined from time to time. Retention of urine in the bladder caused due to diabetes might also result in pressure on kidneys, further damaging them.

It is recorded that around 30 to 40% of diabetes patients will eventually face kidney failure. The number is disturbing given the billions of diabetes patients worldwide. Apart from raising people’s awareness on diabetes, there is also a need to make the tests of kidneys affordable for a common man. Diabetes patients must be regularly tested for the health of their kidneys and other vital organs.

Essay on Diabetes – 500 Words

Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Attack

Diabetes is a metabolic condition in which the blood retains more glucose, than it should under normal conditions. A high blood glucose level may damage the vital organs of human body like kidney, eyes, ear, heart and brain. Diabetes is caused due to under production of insulin hormone by the pancreas, which acts as a bridge for blood sugar (glucose), to move from blood to the other cells of the body.

Signs of Diabetes Mellitus

Some of the typical symptoms of Diabetes include anxiety, tiredness, blurred vision, headache, irritation, weakness, loss of stamina and faster heartbeat. These are only initial symptoms of diabetes and indicate the forthcoming severe consequences. Every sign of diabetes speaks volumes about the effects of the disease. For example, tiredness, dizziness is caused due to the inability of one’s body cells to successfully convert blood glucose into energy. Increased blood sugar levels in the blood damages the vital organs including heart.

Person suffering from diabetes is more likely to have cardiovascular complications including heart attack. Diabetes leads to high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, escalating the possibility of a heart attack.

High glucose content in the blood damages the blood vessels of heart. Damaged blood vessels are unable to pump the required blood at the required rate, ultimately causing heart attack and other heart diseases. People suffering from diabetes are more likely to have cardiovascular disorders from a very early age, than the people who are not suffering from diabetes.

There are also certain factors which might increase one’s chance of heart attack, like smoking, drinking liquor, obesity, high cholesterol level and unhealthy lifestyle. The given factors, if present with diabetes, substantially increase the chances of a heart attack.

Prevention is Better than Cure

The best way for a diabetic person to stop a heart attack from occurring is by keeping a check on his/her blood sugar level. A diabetic person should always take necessary precautions to keep his/her blood sugar level under control. The precautions include – routine checkup of sugar level and heart, avoiding unhealthy and oily food, quit smoking, adapting to healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and early morning walks etc.

The blood vessels of a diabetic patient are already weaker as compared to that of a normal human being. If a diabetic patient consumes unhealthy or junk food, he/she increases his/her cholesterol level, which together with the damaged blood vessels makes a heart attack most likely possibility. Activities like exercising and walking keep one’s cholesterol level under control, hence decreasing the chances of a heart attack.

A diabetic person must also take precautionary measures to keep his/her high blood pressure under control. Such patients are more likely to get a heart attack when compared to any normal patient of high blood pressure.

Diabetes is a silent killer; when unchecked, it slowly damages the vital organs resulting in their malfunction and severe health complications. Necessary precautionary measures should be taken, especially by a diabetic person to keep his/her heart and other vital organs in a healthy condition. Diabetes damages the heart’s blood vessels increasing the possibility of a heart attack.

Long Essay on Diabetes – 600 Words

This one is a complete essay providing information about “Meaning, Types, Causes, Symptoms, Effects and Levels of Diabetes.”

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which is identified by the high blood sugar (glucose) level. An increased blood glucose level damages the vital organs as well as other organs of the human’s body causing other potential health ailments.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus could be further classified into the following two types –

1) Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is classified by deficiency of insulin in blood. The deficiency is caused by the loss of insulin producing beta cells in pancreas. This type of diabetes is found more common in children. It is characterized by an abnormally high or low blood sugar levels.

The patients of type 1 diabetes require regular administration of insulin. The type 1 diabetes is hereditary i.e. you are most likely to have type 1 diabetes if any of your parents had it. Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include frequent urination, thirst, weight loss and constant hunger.

2) Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is characterized by the inefficiency of body tissues to effectively respond to insulin, which may be combined by insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common type of diabetes.

People with type 2 diabetes mellitus take medicines to improve the body’s responsiveness to insulin or to reduce the glucose produced by the liver. This type of diabetes mellitus is generally attributed to lifestyle factors like – obesity, low physical activity, irregular and unhealthy diet, excess consumption of sugar in form of sweets, drinks etc.

Causes of Diabetes

The food that we eat is broken down into useful compounds through the process of digestion. One of these compounds is glucose, usually referred to as blood sugar. Glucose is food for the cells of human body i.e. body cells rely on the availability of glucose for further using it as a source of energy. The job of carrying glucose to the cells of the body is done by the blood.

But mere carrying the glucose to the cells by blood isn’t enough for the cells to absorb glucose, a job which is done by hormone insulin, supplied by the pancreas. Insulin acts as a bridge for glucose to transit from blood to the body cells. Problem arises when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or the body cells for some reason doesn’t respond to receive the glucose; both the cases result in the excess of glucose in blood, which is referred as Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Most common symptoms of diabetes are fatigue, irritation, stress, tiredness, frequent urination and headache including loss of strength and stamina, weight loss, increase in appetite etc.

Levels of Diabetes

There are two types of blood sugar levels – fasting blood sugar level (blood sugar test before food) and postprandial blood sugar level (blood sugar test two hours after having meal). Sugar level measured after fasting for at least eight hours generally after an overnight fast is called fasting sugar level. Blood sugar level below 100 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) before eating food is considered normal.

Sugar level measured after two hours of eating is called postprandial glucose level or PP level. The PP blood sugar level should be below 140 mg/dL, two hours after the meals.

Though, the maximum limit in both the cases is defined, the permissible levels may vary among individuals. Some people may have normal fasting sugar level of 60 mg/dL while some may have the normal value of 90 mg/dL.

Effects of Diabetes

Diabetes may have severe health consequences and it affects vital body organs. Excessive glucose in blood damages kidneys, blood vessels, skin resulting in various cardiovascular and skin diseases and other ailments. Diabetes damages the kidneys, resulting in accumulation of impurities in body. It also damages the heart’s blood vessels increasing the possibility of a heart attack.

Apart from damaging vital organs, diabetes may cause various skin infections and the infection in other parts of the body. The prime cause of all type of infections is the decreased immunity of body cells due to their inability to absorb glucose.

Diabetes is a serious life threatening disease and must be constantly monitored and effectively subdued with proper medication and by adapting to a healthy life style. By following a healthy lifestyle, regular checkups and proper medication one can observe a healthy and long life.

Essay on Diabetes FAQs

Can eating too much sugar cause diabetes.

No, eating too much sugar doesn't directly cause diabetes, but it can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes over time.

What are the 3 main symptoms of diabetes?

The 3 main symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, excessive thirst, and unexplained weight loss.

Who gets diabetes and why?

Anyone can get diabetes, but it's more common in those with a family history, poor diet, or lack of physical activity.

How can I prevent diabetes naturally?

You can prevent diabetes naturally by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and staying physically active.

What is the main prevention of diabetes?

The main prevention of diabetes involves lifestyle changes, like eating well and exercising regularly.

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diabetes health center / diabetes a-z list / diabetes prevention article

How to Prevent Diabetes Naturally

• Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
• Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Type 2 diabetes prevention tips and facts

What is type 2 diabetes what causes diabetes, what are symptoms of prediabetes, can type 2 diabetes be prevented naturally, what type of diet helps prevent diabetes, what are the risk factors for developing diabetes, is gestational diabetes a risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life, what treatment medications help prevent type 2 diabetes.

• While genetics plays an important role in the development of diabetes , individuals still have the ability to influence their health to prevent type 2 diabetes .
• There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes . This article focuses on ways to control risk factors for type 2 diabetes .
• Obesity and a sedentary lifestyl e are the biggest diabetes risk factors that are controllable.
• People should watch their weight and exercise on a regular basis to help reverse prediabetes , and prevent the deve lopment of type 2 diabetes.
• Diet is important because it helps with weight loss . Some foods such as nuts in small amounts provide health benefits in blood sugar regulation.
• There is no single recommended diabetes prevention diet , but following a sound nutrition plan and maintaining a healthy weight are important steps in preventing the disease.
• Exercise is beneficial even without weight loss in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
• Exercise is even more beneficial with weight loss in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
• Smoking is harmful in many ways including increasing the risk of cancer and heart disease . It also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• There are medications available that have been shown in large trials to delay or prevent the onset of overt diabetes. Metformin ( Glucophage ) is recommended by the American Diabetes Association for prevention of diabetes in high-risk people.
• The coming years will be very exciting regarding the advances in the field of prevention of diabetes. However, the cornerstone of therapy will likely remain a healthy lifestyle.

There are two major forms of diabetes -- type 1 and type 2. This article focuses specifically on the prevention of type 2 diabetes since there is no know way to prevent type 1 diabetes . This form of diabetes is virtually a pandemic in the United States. This information reviews the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and reviews key points regarding prediction of those at risk for type 2 diabetes. It also is a review of what they can do about it.

While diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar values, type 2 diabetes is also associated with a condition known as insulin resistance . Even though there is an element of impaired insulin secretion from the beta cells of the pancreas, especially when toxic levels of glucose occur (when blood sugars are constantly very high), the major defect in type 2 diabetes is the body's inability to respond properly to insulin.

Eventually, even though the pancreas is working at its best to produce more and more insulin, the body tissues (for example, muscle and fat cells) do not respond and become insensitive to the insulin. At this point, overt diabetes occurs, as the body is no longer able to effectively use its insulin to m aintain normal blood sugar levels. Over time, these high levels of sugar result in the complications we see all too often in patients with diabetes.

In general, prediabetes is not associated with any specific symptoms. However, there may be indicators of problems in blood sugar metabolism that can be seen years before the development of overt diabetes. Health care professionals in the field of endocrinology are now routinely looking at these indicators in patients who are at high risk for developing diabetes.

Irregular menses (menstruation) and premenstrual syndrome

There is an association between the lengthening of the menstrual cycle and the risk for developing diabetes, particularly in obese women. In a national study of nurses, those who had a cycle length of greater than 40 days were twice as likely to develop diabetes then those who cycled every 26 to 31 days. The association is thought to be related to polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ), which also is known to be associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance may be a precursor for type 2 diabetes.

Impaired fasting glucose

By definition, diabetes is associated with a fasting blood sugar of greater than 126 mg/dl. There is another group that has been identified and referred to as having impaired fasting glucose or prediabetes. These people have a fasting blood sugar value of between 110-125mg/dl. The main concern with this group is that they have an increased potential to develop type 2 diabetes when compared to the normal population. The actual percent increase varies depending on ethnicity, weight, etc.; but it is significantly higher, regardless of absolute numbers. In addition, people with impaired fasting glucose also are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke .

Inflammatory markers

The role of inflammation in disease development is an area of extreme interest. For example, we have begun to understand the importance of infl ammation and heart disease. We now know that inflammation may play an important role in the development of diabetes as well. An inflammation marker known as C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be increased in women at risk for developing the metabolic syndrome , and in both men and women at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have shown shifts in the blood levels of a number of markers for inflammation during the progression from no disease, to prediabetes, and then to full-blown diabetes. This research highlights the importance of inflammation as part of the mechanism of diabetes development.

Other risks for type 2 diabetes

Other risks for the development of diabetes include endothelial dysfunction (abnormal response of the inner lining of blood vessels) and retinal artery narrowing (narrowing of the tiny blood vessels in the back of the eye).

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One of the most important factors in the development of diabetes is genetics (over which we have no control). However, there are things in our environment and lifestyle we can control to help prevent diabetes naturally or lower our personal risk of developing diabetes, including exercise and weight loss.

When adjusted for family history, the benefits of exercise can be evaluated based on previous studies. Of note, for every 500 kcal burned weekly through exercise, there is a 6% decrease in relative risk for the development of diabetes. This data is from a study done in men who were followed over a period of 10 years. The study also notes a greater benefit in men who were heavier at baseline. There have been similar reports on the effects of exercise in women.

Exercise is thought to be a major determinant of insulin sensitivity in muscle tissue. By increasing exercise, the body uses insulin more efficiently, for up to 70 hours after the exercise period has occurred. Thus, exercising three to four times per week would be beneficial in most people.

The same benefits appear when looking specifically at people with impaired prediabetes (glucose tolerance/impaired fasting glucose). When diet and exercise are used as tools in this population over a 6-year study and compared to a control group, glucose tolerance improves by about 76% compared to deterioration in 67% of the control group. The exercise group also had a lesser rate of progression to type 2 diabetes.

Much of the benefit of exercise occurs independent of weight loss. However, when combined with weight loss, the benefits increase substantially.

Weight Loss

In people at risk for diabetes, weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity as well as delay, and even prevent progression to type 2 diabetes. In patients with overt diabetes, weight loss can play a tremendous role in improving blood sugar control.

Two large studies -- one in Finland and the other in the U.S. (the Diabetes Prevention Program [DPP]) -- have shown the benefit of weight loss in diabetes prevention. In the Finnish study, more than 500 men and women with impaired glucose tolerance were assigned to a control group or an exercise/weight loss group. By the end of the study, the weight loss group had lost about 8 pounds, and the control group about 2 pounds. The weight loss group had significantly less participants develop diabetes than the control group.

The DPP study showed a similar result. In this study, there was also a group taking metformin (Glucophage) as a preventive measure. At the end of the study, the lifestyle group actually did better at prevention of diabetes than those taking metformin. In fact, the study was stopped early, because the benefit of weight loss (the weight loss group lost about 15 pounds on average and kept it off) was so dramatic.

Smoking 16 to 20 cigarettes a day or more can increase a person's risk of developing diabetes to more than three times that of nonsmokers. The exact reason for this isn't well understo od. It may be that smoking directly decreases the body's ability to utilize insulin. Moreover, it has been observed that after smoking, blood sugar levels increase. Finally, there is also an association between smoking and body fat distribution; smoking tends to encourage the "apple" shape, which is a risk factor for diabetes.

A study of over 83,000 women consuming nuts (and peanut butter) seemed to show some protective effect against the development of diabetes. Women who have more than five 1-ounce servings of nuts a week lowered their risk of developing diabetes compared to women who consumed no nuts at all.

Diet becomes a critical issue when dealing with disease processes. When exploring dietary factors as a contributor to disease processes, one must take a number of things into account, for example, is it the specific food itself or the weight gain associated with its consumption that causes the risk? Is it the food, or the age/lifestyle of those consuming it that causes the risk? While cinnamon, coffee, and fenugreek seeds are among the many food products that some feel are associated with development/prevention of diabetes, none of these claims have truly been fully scientifically evaluated.

Rather than following a specific diabetes prevention diet, the greatest impact in prevention has occurred with weight reduction. Consequently, there is no single recommended diabetes prevention diet. The American Diabetes Association recommends goals of modest weight loss (5%-10% of body weight) and moderate exercise as primary interventions for preventing type 2 diabetes.

A "Western" diet vs. a "healthy" diet

In a study of over 42,000 men, diets high in red meat, processed meat, high-fat dairy products, and sweets were associated with an increased risk of diabetes by almost two times that of those eating a "healthy" diet without high levels of these foods. Again, this is independent of weight gain and other factors mentioned previously.

Dairy foods

The data on dairy products seems to vary. In a study of over 289,000 health professionals, Harvard researchers showed that consumption of yogurt, in contrast to other dairy products, was associated with a reduced risk for diabetes. In a pooled analysis of 17 studies about dairy products and diabetes risk, those who consumed more dairy products had a lower risk than those who consumed few dairy products. A Swedish study found that high-fat dairy products, but not low-fat dairy products, lowered the risk for type 2 diabetes.

Sugar consumption alone has not been associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. Weight gain is associated with sugar consumption. However, after adjusting for weight gain and other variables, there appears to be a relationship between drinking sugar-laden beverages and the development of type 2 diabetes. Women who drink one or more of these drinks a day have almost twice the risk of developing diabetes than women who drink one a month or less.

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The risk factors for developing diabetes actually vary depending on where a person lives. This is in part due to the environment the person lives in, and in part due to the genetic makeup of the family. In the United States, it is estimated that one in three males and two out of every five females born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes (the lifetime risk). It has also been calculated that for those diagnosed with diabetes before the age of 40, the average life expectancy is reduced by 12 years for men and 19 years for women.

The risk for developing diabetes increases in certain cases such as the following.

• Genetics: People with a close relative with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk.
• Ethnic background: For example, the actual prevalence of diabetes in the Caucasian population of the U.S. is about 7.1%, while in the African American population, it increases to about 12.6%. Approximately 8.4% of Asian Americans and 11.6% of Hispanic Americans are affected. In a well-studied group of Native Americans, the Pima Indians, the prevalence increases to almost 35%.
• Birth weight: There is a relationship between birth weight and developing diabetes, and it's the opposite of what one might intuitively think. The lower the birth weight, the higher the risk of type 2 diabetes. At the other end of the spectrum, a very high birth weight (over 8.8 pounds or 4 kg) also is associated with an increased risk. Additionally, mothers of infants who had a higher birth weight (over 9 pounds) are at increased risk for developing diabetes.
• Metabolic syndrome : People who have the metabolic syndrome are at especially high risk for developing diabetes.
• Obesity: Obesity is probably the most impressive risk factor and in most situations the most controllable. This is in part due to the fact that obesity increases the body's resistance to insulin. Studies have shown that reversal of obesity through weight reduction improves insulin sensitivity and regulation of blood sugar. However, the distribution of fat is important. The classic "pear" shaped person (smaller waist than hips) has a lower risk of developing diabetes than the "apple" shaped person (larger around the waist). The exact reason for this difference is unknown, but it is thought to have something to do with the metabolic activity of the fat tissue in different areas of the body.
• Gestational diabetes : Women who have gestational diabetes during pregnancy have a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

The simple answer is yes. The risk for type 2 diabetes is higher in women who have had gestational diabetes (diabetes of pregnancy). In general, type 2 diabetes will occur in about 40% of women with gestational diabetes over the following 10 years. This number increases to the 50% range in obese women.

There are efforts underway to see if treating women with gestational diabetes (using lifestyle, and medications such as thiazolidinediones) can change the course of development of type 2 diabetes. The results appear promising, and further work is being done to identify who will potentially respond to treatment.

• As described previously, metformin (Glucophage) has been shown in the DPP trial to prevent the development of diabetes in some people with impaired glucose tolerance. While not quite as effective as intensive lifestyle change, metformin decreased the rate of progression from 29% in the placebo group to 22%.
• High-risk individuals are those under 60 years of age or who are obese, or women with a history of gestational diabetes who have impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or hemoglobin A1C levels of 5.7% to 6.4%, in whom lifestyle interventions fail to improve control of glucose levels.
• Acarbose ( Precose ), a drug designed to reduce small intestinal absorption of carbohydrates has been used with some success as well and is licensed for diabetes prevention in some countries. The STOP NIDDM trial showed that in about 1,400 patients with impaired glucose tolerance, acarbose significantly reduced progression to diabetes compared to placebo. However, the occurrence of gastrointestinal side effects have limited the use of this drug for some people.

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Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control.

Changing your lifestyle could be a big step toward diabetes prevention — and it's never too late to start. Consider these tips.

Lifestyle changes can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. Prevention is especially important if you're currently at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes because of excess weight or obesity, high cholesterol, or a family history of diabetes.

If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes — high blood sugar that doesn't reach the threshold of a diabetes diagnosis — lifestyle changes can prevent or delay the onset of disease.

Making a few changes in your lifestyle now may help you avoid the serious health complications of diabetes in the future, such as nerve, kidney and heart damage. It's never too late to start.

1. Lose extra weight

Losing weight reduces the risk of diabetes. People in one large study reduced their risk of developing diabetes by almost 60% after losing approximately 7% of their body weight with changes in exercise and diet.

The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with prediabetes lose at least 7% to 10% of their body weight to prevent disease progression. More weight loss will translate into even greater benefits.

Set a weight-loss goal based on your current body weight. Talk to your doctor about reasonable short-term goals and expectations, such as a losing 1 to 2 pounds a week.

2. Be more physically active

There are many benefits to regular physical activity. Exercise can help you:

• Lose weight
• Lower your blood sugar
• Boost your sensitivity to insulin — which helps keep your blood sugar within a normal range

Goals for most adults to promote weight loss and maintain a healthy weight include:

• Aerobic exercise. Aim for 30 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise — such as brisk walking, swimming, biking or running — on most days for a total of at least 150 minutes a week.
• Resistance exercise. Resistance exercise — at least 2 to 3 times a week — increases your strength, balance and ability to maintain an active life. Resistance training includes weightlifting, yoga and calisthenics.
• Limited inactivity. Breaking up long bouts of inactivity, such as sitting at the computer, can help control blood sugar levels. Take a few minutes to stand, walk around or do some light activity every 30 minutes.

3. Eat healthy plant foods

Plants provide vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates in your diet. Carbohydrates include sugars and starches — the energy sources for your body — and fiber. Dietary fiber, also known as roughage or bulk, is the part of plant foods your body can't digest or absorb.

Fiber-rich foods promote weight loss and lower the risk of diabetes. Eat a variety of healthy, fiber-rich foods, which include:

• Fruits, such as tomatoes, peppers and fruit from trees
• Nonstarchy vegetables, such as leafy greens, broccoli and cauliflower
• Legumes, such as beans, chickpeas and lentils
• Whole grains, such as whole-wheat pasta and bread, whole-grain rice, whole oats, and quinoa

The benefits of fiber include:

• Slowing the absorption of sugars and lowering blood sugar levels
• Interfering with the absorption of dietary fat and cholesterol
• Managing other risk factors that affect heart health, such as blood pressure and inflammation
• Helping you eat less because fiber-rich foods are more filling and energy rich

Avoid foods that are "bad carbohydrates" — high in sugar with little fiber or nutrients: white bread and pastries, pasta from white flour, fruit juices, and processed foods with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup.

4. Eat healthy fats

Fatty foods are high in calories and should be eaten in moderation. To help lose and manage weight, your diet should include a variety of foods with unsaturated fats, sometimes called "good fats."

Unsaturated fats — both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats — promote healthy blood cholesterol levels and good heart and vascular health. Sources of good fats include:

• Olive, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed and canola oils
• Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, peanuts, flaxseed and pumpkin seeds
• Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna and cod

Saturated fats, the "bad fats," are found in dairy products and meats. These should be a small part of your diet. You can limit saturated fats by eating low-fat dairy products and lean chicken and pork.

5. Skip fad diets and make healthier choices

Many fad diets — such as the glycemic index, paleo or keto diets — may help you lose weight. There is little research, however, about the long-term benefits of these diets or their benefit in preventing diabetes.

Your dietary goal should be to lose weight and then maintain a healthier weight moving forward. Healthy dietary decisions, therefore, need to include a strategy that you can maintain as a lifelong habit. Making healthy decisions that reflect some of your own preferences for food and traditions may be beneficial for you over time.

One simple strategy to help you make good food choices and eat appropriate portions sizes is to divide up your plate. These three divisions on your plate promote healthy eating:

• One-half: fruit and nonstarchy vegetables
• One-quarter: whole grains
• One-quarter: protein-rich foods, such as legumes, fish or lean meats

When to see your doctor

The American Diabetes Association recommends routine screening with diagnostic tests for type 2 diabetes for all adults age 45 or older and for the following groups:

• People younger than 45 who are overweight or obese and have one or more risk factors associated with diabetes
• Women who have had gestational diabetes
• People who have been diagnosed with prediabetes
• Children who are overweight or obese and who have a family history of type 2 diabetes or other risk factors

Share your concerns about diabetes prevention with your doctor. He or she will appreciate your efforts to prevent diabetes and may offer additional suggestions based on your medical history or other factors.

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• Robertson RP. Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed April 12, 2021.
• American Diabetes Association. Prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes — 2021. Diabetes Care. 2021; doi:10.2337/dc21-S003.
• Diabetes mellitus. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/diabetes-mellitus-and-disorders-of-carbohydrate-metabolism/diabetes-mellitus-dm. Accessed April 14, 2021.
• American Diabetes Association. Facilitating behavior change and well-being to improve health outcomes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes — 2021. Diabetes Care. 2021; doi:10.2337/dc21-S005.
• Your game plan to prevent type 2 diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/all-content. Accessed April 8, 2021.
• Melmed S, et al. Therapeutics of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 8, 2021.
• Interactive Nutrition Facts label: Dietary fiber. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/interactivenutritionfactslabel/dietary-fiber.cfm. Accessed April 16, 2021.
• 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Accessed April 16, 2021.
• Interactive Nutrition Facts label: Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/interactivenutritionfactslabel/fat.cfm. Accessed April 16, 2021.
• American Diabetes Association. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes — 2021. Diabetes Care. 2021; doi:10.2337/dc21-S002.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Other Diseases & Conditions — Diabetes

Essays About Diabetes

The burden of diabetes, the dangers of diabetes and the proper management of the disease, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time.

Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased appetite.

There are three main types of diabetes mellitus: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and Gestational diabetes.

Family history, obesity, lack of exercise, genetics, air pollution, etc.

More than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 5 of them don’t know they have it. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population has aged and become more overweight or obese.

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Diabetes Essay | Essay on Diabetes for Students and Children in English

February 12, 2024 by Prasanna

Diabetes Essay:  Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that primarily causes high blood glucose. The most common types of Diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is caused due to genetic disorder, whereas Type 2 diabetes is primarily a lifestyle disorder. The other types of Diabetes are prediabetes and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes is a borderline phase preceding Diabetes when the blood glucose levels are higher than usual but not as high as Diabetes itself.

Prediabetes gets cured once the glucose levels return to normal. Gestational Diabetes is caused in pregnant women, and it occurs mainly during the gestational phase, thus the name. This condition usually gets reversed once the fetus is delivered. Both prediabetes and Gestational Diabetes are reversible conditions, while Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are chronic conditions and usually last a lifetime after its onset.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long and Short Essays on Diabetes for Students and Kids in English

We are providing students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on the topic of Diabetes for reference.

Long Essay on Diabetes 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Diabetes is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Diabetes is a severe metabolic disorder that causes high blood glucose. Diabetes can be both reversible as well as chronic. Chronic Diabetes includes Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, in which Type 1 is caused due to genetic reasons, whereas Type 2 is caused due to an irregular lifestyle. Reversible Diabetes includes prediabetes and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes usually precedes the onset of type 2 diabetes but can be corrected with proper diet and exercise.

Gestational Diabetes occurs only during pregnancy, and once the baby is born, the condition gets better in the mother’s body. However, women with gestational Diabetes stand a risk of suffering from Type 2 diabetes later on in their lives. Chronic Diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin hormone production or the body’s resistance to the insulin produced. Insulin produced by the beta cells of Islets of Langerhans of the pancreas is responsible for regulating glucose levels in the blood.

Usually, when the blood glucose levels increase, it sends a signal to the pancreas to produce insulin, helping the cells absorb the glucose. After that, the level of blood glucose comes down to normal, and insulin secretion drops. In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immunity system fuelled by a genetic reason leads the immune response to attack the beta cells and destroy them, thereby diminishing or almost inhibiting insulin production. In this condition, the patient needs a steady influx of insulin in regular insulin injections to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Obesity or lifestyle habits barely play any role in this form of Diabetes.

On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is caused due to unhealthy lifestyle habits such as prolonged lack of proper sleep, excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption, excessive consumption of junk food, and obesity, to name a few. This condition is caused due to the body’s resistance to the insulin present in the bloodstream and the pancreas’ consequent inability to produce enough insulin to overcome this.

As a result, the cells fail to absorb the glucose, and blood glucose levels increase abnormally. Type 2 diabetes is usually kept in check with medications that constitute insulin sensitizers. People with a sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical exercise, polycystic ovarian syndrome, high cholesterol, hypertension, and obesity are at a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The risk of getting affected with diabetes increases with age. Some of the common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, increase in thirst, and appetite.

Apart from medications, Diabetes can be kept in check by maintaining a healthy diet, proper exercise, optimum sleep and water consumption, and abstaining from tobacco, alcohol, and junk food consumption. Prolonged chronic Diabetes can trigger a host of other life-threatening diseases. Some of them being chronic kidney failure (nephropathy), neurological damage (neuropathy), coronary artery disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, retina damage (retinopathy), Alzheimer’s disease, microbial skin infections, foot damage, and hearing impairment. In a few cases, it can even cause depression.

Short Essay on Diabetes 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Diabetes is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that causes an increase in blood glucose levels. It can be both chronic as well as reversible. Chronic diabetes types are more commonly found as compared to reversible ones.

Chronic types are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is caused due to genetic reasons and leads to an autoimmune attack on the body’s insulin-producing cells. Thus, insulin production is inhibited. Type 2 diabetes is caused due to an unhealthy lifestyle and obesity. While Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin injections, Type 2 diabetes requires a combination of insulin sensitizer medication as-well-as a healthy diet and proper exercise.

Chronic Diabetes can give rise to other diseases like heart failure, kidney failure, loss of eyesight, nerve damage, and depression. People with high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and high alcohol consumption are at a high risk of developing diabetes later on.

10 Lines on Diabetes Essay in English

FAQ’s on Diabetes Essay

Question 1.  What is Diabetes?

Answer: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose and a decrease in insulin levels in the blood.

Question 2.  How is insulin produced?

Answer:  The insulin hormone is produced by beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.

Question 3.  Can Diabetes cause heart failure?

Answer:  Diabetes can trigger coronary artery disease resulting in heart failure.

Question 4. Can diabetes cause kidney failure?

Answer:  Prolonged Diabetes can cause chronic kidney failure in many patients.

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What Is Diabetes?

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Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Glucose is your body’s main source of energy. Your body can make glucose, but glucose also comes from the food you eat.

Insulin is a hormone  made by the pancreas  that helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy. If you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin, or doesn’t use insulin properly. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.

Diabetes raises the risk for damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. Diabetes is also linked to some types of cancer. Taking steps to prevent or manage diabetes may lower your risk of developing diabetes health problems.

What are the different types of diabetes?

The most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes

If you have type 1 diabetes , your body makes little or no insulin. Your immune system  attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can appear at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to stay alive.

Type 2 diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes , the cells in your body don’t use insulin properly. The pancreas may be making insulin but is not making enough insulin to keep your blood glucose level in the normal range. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you have risk factors , such as overweight or obesity , and a family history of the disease. You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood.

You can help delay or prevent type 2 diabetes  by knowing the risk factors and taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle, such as losing weight or preventing weight gain.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Most of the time, this type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born. However, if you’ve had gestational diabetes, you have a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Sometimes diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy is type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes

People with prediabetes  have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. If you have prediabetes, you have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. You also have a higher risk for heart disease than people with normal glucose levels.

Other types of diabetes

A less common type of diabetes, called monogenic diabetes , is caused by a change in a single gene . Diabetes can also come from having surgery to remove the pancreas, or from damage to the pancreas due to conditions such as cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis .

How common are diabetes and prediabetes?

More than 133 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes. 1

As of 2019, 37.3 million people—or 11.3% of the U.S. population—had diabetes. 1 More than 1 in 4 people over the age of 65 had diabetes. Nearly 1 in 4 adults with diabetes didn’t know they had the disease. 2

About 90% to 95% of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes. 3

In 2019, 96 million adults—38% of U.S. adults—had prediabetes. 4

What other health problems can people with diabetes develop?

Over time, high blood glucose can damage your heart , kidneys , feet , and eyes . If you have diabetes, you can take steps to lower your chances of developing diabetes health problems  by taking steps to improve your health  and learning how to manage the disease . Managing your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can help prevent future health problems.

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

NIDDK would like to thank: Daniel Bessesen, M.D., University of Colorado; Domenico Accili, M.D., Columbia University

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How to Prevent Diabetes

What is type 2 diabetes.

If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels are too high. With type 2 diabetes , this happens because your body does not make enough insulin, or it does not use insulin well (this is called insulin resistance). If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, you might be able to prevent or delay developing it.

Who is at risk for type 2 diabetes?

Many Americans are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Your chances of getting it depend on a combination of risk factors such as your genes and lifestyle. The risk factors include:

• Having prediabetes , which means you have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes
• Being overweight or having obesity
• Being age 45 or older
• A family history of diabetes
• Being African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
• Having high blood pressure
• Having a low level of HDL (good) cholesterol or a high level of triglycerides
• A history of diabetes in pregnancy
• Having given birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
• An inactive lifestyle
• A history of heart disease or stroke
• Having depression
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Having acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition in which your skin becomes dark and thick, especially around your neck or armpits

How can I prevent or delay getting type 2 diabetes?

If you are at risk for diabetes, you may be able to prevent or delay getting it. Most of the things that you need to do involve having a healthier lifestyle. So if you make these changes, you will get other health benefits as well. You may lower your risk of other diseases, and you will probably feel better and have more energy. The changes are:

• Losing weight and keeping it off. Weight control is an important part of diabetes prevention. You may be able to prevent or delay diabetes by losing 5 to 10% of your current weight. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, your goal would be to lose between 10 to 20 pounds. And once you lose the weight, it is important that you don't gain it back.
• Following a healthy eating plan. It is important to reduce the amount of calories you eat and drink each day, so you can lose weight and keep it off. To do that, your diet should include smaller portions and less fat and sugar. You should also eat a variety of foods from each food group, including plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. It's also a good idea to limit red meat, and avoid processed meats.
• Get regular exercise. Exercise has many health benefits , including helping you to lose weight and lower your blood sugar levels. These both lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. Try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week. If you have not been active, talk with your health care professional to figure out which types of exercise are best for you. You can start slowly and work up to your goal.
• Don't smoke. Smoking can contribute to insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. If you already smoke, try to quit .
• Talk to your health care provider to see whether there is anything else you can do to delay or to prevent type 2 diabetes. If you are at high risk, your provider may suggest that you take one of a few types of diabetes medicines .

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Diabetes Prevention: 5 Tips for Taking Control (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Diabetes Risk Factors (American Heart Association)
• Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Kids (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Simple Steps to Preventing Diabetes (Harvard School of Public Health)

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Journal articles references and abstracts from medline/pubmed (national library of medicine).

• Article: Effects of Lifestyle Interventions on Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Risk Factors...
• Article: Adding a Brief Continuous Glucose Monitoring Intervention to the National Diabetes...
• Article: Hybrid Evaluation of a Lifestyle Change Program to Prevent the Development...
• How to Prevent Diabetes -- see more articles

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Community Health Promotion: The Fight Against Diabetes in a Community Setting Essay

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Community and Health

A community is established when a group of individual’s band together because of shared values. The concept of community has been brought up in the context of health promotion. Healthcare professionals are aware that there are limitations when it comes to using conventional methods in health promotion. Thus, it is extremely difficult to help those who are in need. This is especially true when it comes to lifestyle-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. It is imperative that healthcare workers to promote health in the context of a community in order to ensure effective communication and better results.

In the past, Type 2 diabetes was linked to old age. However, in the past few decades, a sedentary lifestyle coupled with excessive consumption of high-calorie food has brought about a health crisis. Men and women under the age of forty are suffering from Type 2 diabetes. In the United States alone, 85 to 90 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight (Metzger & Kotulak, 2006, p.10). It is nearing epidemic levels and many families are suffering because of medical expenses and shortened lifespan. It is therefore imperative to inform the public on how to prevent Type 2 diabetes. But it was discovered that traditional means of health promotion is not effective. There is a need to go to the community level in order to increase the effectiveness of health promotion.

According to experts in community healthcare, communicating with the community is the most rewarding when it comes to public health because successful communication results in protection or promotion of the health of the community (Novick et al., 2008, p.575). Applying principles of community-based health promotion it is important to focus on Type 2 diabetes and the people that are prone to acquiring this medical condition (Lundy & Janes, 2009, p.304). It is also imperative to recognize the bitter truth that “poorer health status is correlated with race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status” (Maurer & Smith, 2005, p.46). Health promotion must be tailor-made so that it can be understood by the target audience.

It has now been made clear why conventional methods of health promotion are ineffective. Failure is due to the non-consideration of social factors. A community-based health promotion campaign can easily deal with race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status and even the shared culture of the community members. Healthcare professionals are then made sensitive to the circumstances of the people that they are trying to help. It is easy to put up walls and be antagonistic to strangers that appear to intrude into the lives of the people. By being sensitive to the culture and needs of the community, healthcare workers are no longer viewed as threats but people that are sympathetic to the community. As a result they are welcome with open arms.

Type-2 diabetes is a lifestyle-related disease that is oftentimes the result of a lack of exercise and overeating high-calorie food. In order to deal with this problem healthcare professional must initiated a health promotion campaign. The best way to do it is through a community setting where they can adjust their communication strategies so that it would be sensitive to the needs and culture of the community members. Thus, they can expect effective communication and as a result the whole community would listen to what they have to say.

Lundy, K. & S. Janes. (2009). Community Health Nursing: Caring for the Public’s Health . MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Maurer, F. & M. Smith. (2005). Community/Public Health Nursing Practice: Health for Families and Populations . MO: Elsevier-Saunders.

Metzger, B. & D. Kotulak. (2006). American Medical Association Guide to Living with Diabetes . New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Novick, L., et al. (2008). Public Health Administration: Principles for Population- based Management . MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

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IvyPanda. (2022, March 29). Community Health Promotion: The Fight Against Diabetes in a Community Setting. https://ivypanda.com/essays/community-health-promotion-the-fight-against-diabetes-in-a-community-setting/

"Community Health Promotion: The Fight Against Diabetes in a Community Setting." IvyPanda , 29 Mar. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/community-health-promotion-the-fight-against-diabetes-in-a-community-setting/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Community Health Promotion: The Fight Against Diabetes in a Community Setting'. 29 March.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Community Health Promotion: The Fight Against Diabetes in a Community Setting." March 29, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/community-health-promotion-the-fight-against-diabetes-in-a-community-setting/.

1. IvyPanda . "Community Health Promotion: The Fight Against Diabetes in a Community Setting." March 29, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/community-health-promotion-the-fight-against-diabetes-in-a-community-setting/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Community Health Promotion: The Fight Against Diabetes in a Community Setting." March 29, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/community-health-promotion-the-fight-against-diabetes-in-a-community-setting/.