The Impact of Diabetes on Society and Human Health - Essay Y3

This essay explores the multifaceted impact of diabetes on society and human health, focusing on the epidemiology, etiology, and factors contributing to the disease, particularly in the United Kingdom. It discusses the increasing prevalence of diabetes, its association with lifestyle factors like obesity and unhealthy diets, and the genetic predispositions that contribute to its development. The essay also examines various treatment and intervention strategies, including a case study illustrating the use of DPP-4 inhibitors and metformin. Furthermore, it highlights the significant healthcare challenges posed by diabetes, such as the lack of relevant performance indicators, educational deficiencies, and issues with blood glucose monitoring devices. The conclusion emphasizes the critical need for improved diabetes care and prevention strategies to mitigate its impact on individuals and communities.

The impact of Diabetes on Society and
Human Health.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
DISCUSSION..............................................................................................................................................3
Epidemiology (R values) and Aetiology for disease..........................................................................3
Factors causing disease......................................................................................................................4
Treatment and Intervention (using case study example),...................................................................5
Impact of diabetes on UK and across nation......................................................................................6
Healthcare challenges linked with disease.........................................................................................6
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Illness such as diabetes is now most becoming a common condition across world. Diabetes can
generally make impact over every age group in every population across globe. In this, having socially
disadvantaged groups among affluent societies as well as black people and minority communities are
more significantly vulnerable towards diabetes. Illness can have a significant impact on psychological,
physical health of people and their families as well. This can further lead to complications such as having
diabetes can contribute toward various heart illness, renal failure, blindness and many more. The essay
will cover prevalence of diabetes among population of United Kingdom that what actually the factors that
can cause such illness among people. There is also a discussion about various well-being challenges
which people are facing by having diabetes. In order to overcome such impacts of diabetes, there are
specific interventions and treatment available through which people can acquire their healthy living or
lifestyle and reducing the prevalence of diabetes among population on UK and across globe (Labarca and
et. al., 2018).
DISCUSSION
Epidemiology (R values) and Aetiology for disease.
The burden of having illness associated with diabetes is quite elevated and increasing abruptly in
every country, furnished by globe elevated in prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle and obesity as well.
Having diabetes is generally a chronic illness which can occur either when pancreas does not produce
enough insulin in human body or when body does not effectively use insulin that is produced inside body.
In this, there are large number of people that are affected by diabetes such as rose from 108 million in the
year 1980 to approximately about 422 million in the year 2014. Its cause has been increasing more
effectively among people who belongs to low income and middle income countries in comparison with
high income countries. In year between 2000 to 2016, there was nearly about 5% elevation in premature
mortality rates having diabetes (Diabetes, 2021). In year 2019, it was the ninth leading cause of deaths
among all severe illnesses consisting an estimation of about 1.5 million deaths has occurred directly with
having diabetes. In addition, it is one of the major cause of kidney failure, various cardiovascular
illnesses, blindness as well as amputation of lower limbs. Having genetic condition is essential but it is
not specific in causing diabetes as it may be a hereditary illness that means children are more prone
towards developing diabetes which is inherited from either their father or mother. In this, environmental
factors can also play an essential role in progression of diabetes. It is because having enhanced living
standards have greatly decrease exposure of microorganism, contributing towards enhanced
autoimmunity (Epidemiology of diabetes, 2014).

Factors causing disease.
There are several factors that can contribute towards diabetes among population of United
Kingdom. Amongst all, increasing rates of obesity is generally a main factor that most of population is
suffering from Type 2 diabetes mellitus across UK. Other than obesity, there are some other factors also
that can take part to cause diabetes among people such as unhealthy diet, irregular physical exercises,
unhealthy lifestyle, family history, age group and abnormal body weight. On other hand, diabetes in an
individual is generally caused by reduction or increased rates of glucose inside body. It is generally a
sugar which is a source of energy for cells which can effectively make muscles as well as other tissues.
While talking about diabetes, human body generally needs sufficient amount of insulin to work
functioning of body. Increase or decrease in amount of insulin can effectively cause diabetes in body.
Increasing body weight is normally considered to be a factor causing diabetes among individuals. In
addition, when human body cells become more resistant towards actions of insulin as well as pancreas is
also unable to make sufficient amount of insulin to cope with resistance, hence lead to cause severe
illness in body. Furthermore, unhealthy eating or increased amount of fat in diet can be an essential factor
that causes diabetes among people nowadays (Type 2 Diabetes Causes and Risk Factors, 2021). in
addition to this, having diet increased in calories, cholesterol, or fats can effectively enhance developing
risk of diabetes. In this, reduced diet can specifically lead to obesity along with many other well-being
issues. An elevation in amount of fat can specifically impairs the action of insulin which can leads to
increase blood sugar level abnormally in cells and through body (Dehlin, Jacobsson and Roddy, 2020).
Figure 1 prevalence of diabetes among population across globe.

Treatment and Intervention (using case study example),
There are various treatments and interventions that can be used to treat or overcome the
prevalence of diabetes among people. As per case study, a 68-year-old male patient suffering from type 2
diabetes mellitus has been receiving an optimal metformin monotherapy for about past two years. At
present his dose is about 2000 mg/day. He has effectively overcome his BMI from 35 kg/m2 to 28
kg/mg2 since past 2 years. His blood lipids are well-controlled with help of taking Atorvastatin 10mg
daily (Case Studies of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Exercises in Problem Solving, 2015).
During his consultation with care professional, patient mentioned about canagliflozin and has raised
questions about its efficacy. In this, after reviewing, a DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) inhibitor is selected
as an add-on therapy as it can help to work by blocking or inhibiting actions of DPP-4. It is generally an
enzyme that can effectively destroy or damage incretin hormone. In addition, incretin hormone can aid to
produce more insulin only when it is required inside body. It can positively decrease amount of glucose
that is being produced by liver even when it is not required. Furthermore, the inhibitors can lead to more
GLP-1 which can lasts in bloodstreams as this can excite production of insulin as well as reduces
glucagon production when levels of glucose are quite high and effectively reducing the levels of glucose
in blood. In order to treat the conditions of diabetic patients, DPP-4 inhibitors are generally used and can
lead to a higher bioavailability of these such proteins and then therefore, can protract the half-life of
actions of insulin. In addition, majority of effects are mainly seen upon DPP-4 inhibitor treatment that are
assign to an elevation in levels of GLP-1 (DPP-4 Inhibitors, 2021). It is because, dipeptidyl polypeptidase
4 has become a major target for type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment. In context with metformin, it is
generally first treatment for oral hypoglycaemic monotherapy. It can lower the blood glucose levels,
include lower side effects, can reduces risk of developing hypoglycaemia, it can be proven for long-term
safety, and have low weight gain (Sabanayagam et. al., 2019).
Impact of diabetes on UK and across nation.
While talking about diabetes in United Kingdom and across world, there are number of people
that are affected by illness and causing severe disease such as cardiovascular illness, blindness and many
more and some of it can lead to death also. In this, 1 in every 20 people is having diabetes in UK. And

every year about 24,000 of all population generally die with having diabetes. In context with society, it
generally imposes a significant concern on community or society in a form of elevated costs of medical
care, lost productivity and unidentifiable costs that can contribute towards decreased quality life among
people (THE COST OF DIABETES, 2014). if individuals know that they are an increased risk of having
diabetes or specific illness than they more often try to prevent by making healthier modifications into
their lifestyle and diet as well. And, it is generally a concentration of National Health Services diabetes
prevention programme. In addition, it is estimated that about 400 million adults are generally living with
diabetes across globe. The prevalence of diabetes among population across nation has nearly become
doubled since 1980 from 4.7% to about 8.5% among adults. It can mirror an elevation in risk factors that
are particularly liked with diabetes like obesity or overweight. It is more common among middle and low
income countries than compared with high income countries. Having diabetes can lead to all types of
complications within human body as well as can negatively enhances risk of dying prematurely. In
addition, possible complications such as loss of vision, stroke, nerve damage and so on. And, in
pregnancy, increased diabetes or not controlled at time can enhances the chances of death of fetal and
other complications as well (GLOBAL REPORT ON DIABETES, 2016).
Healthcare challenges linked with disease.
Health Challenges in Diabetes Care in U .K is very wide. The improvement of diabetes
care across the UK, the objective is propose better way to plan of education, access and learning
advancement for people with diabetes, including patient education, psychology, improvement
of patient living with diabetes. The health care challenges associated with disease is such as
lack of relevant performance indicators, lack of Responsibility and measure, deficiency of
education related to quality in blood glucose monitoring devices . Diabetes is one of the leading
health challenges of the 21st century. The number of people affected with diabetes is up to rise to 4.2
million people by 2030, affecting almost 9% of the people [NHS England, 2018]. The challenges
associated with disease is deficiency of understanding related to the value of measuring glucose
readings, deficiency of understanding about diet, stress management and about sleep and exercise. The
patient is not able to recognise low sugar containing food and lack of physical activity , if you not want
exercise a simple 30 minute walk is also helpful. The execution study conducted with individuals
persons, to show about the system which is help to understand the laboratory study ( Current Challenges
in Diabetes Care and How to Address Them, 2018). The problem regarding devices such as devices used
in the testing of blood sugar is not meet the standers of ISO, which is currently used in UK. The glucose
monitoring systems which is used for the assessment of hypoglycaemic status in type 1diabetes and type
2 diabetes its required proper standardization with a finger-prick using a SMBG device. It must be

calibrated with a good quality of accurate blood glucose monitoring system. The glucose monitoring
systems should meet the standers of ISO. The self monitoring of blood glucose provide a communication
between CGM devices such as cell phones, personal computers which improve the poor analytical
performance of glucose monitoring systems. The lack of education in people and lack of educational
resources is big challenges, learning difficulties such as speaking and understanding English which is
essential for participating in educational groups. The limited access of current evidence-based guidance to
facilitate effective change in diabetes care. The lack of effective person -centred care approaches, due to
lack f time and lack of knowledge and limited access of health and educational professionals. It also
included lack of regular and structured diabetes educational opportunities which provide more effective
way to deliver knowledge and care for people living with diabetes. Now a days numbers of mobile apps
is available which provide education, and help in management of disease. It also contains various features
such as on time reporting , setting reminders and by providing personalized educational and therapeutic
support and about the proper knowledge about the food which are helpful for people with diabetes. The
health care challenges associated with diabetes is also involved deficiency of Relevant Measurable KPIs
it sets the sitter care required for every people with diabetes. The tax cost was set at a level to enable or
access by people with diabetes (Sakhvidi et. al., 2018).
CONCLUSION
From above discussion, it is concluded that increased prevalence of diabetes among population
across nation can significantly impact on their health and well-being. There are various factors that can
contribute towards increased level of diabetes among population across nation. There are some healthcare
challenges or difficulties that is associated with diabetes which can negatively make impact over
population of UK and across globe. In order to overcome or cope with leading cause, there are specific
interventions and treatment such as increasing healthy lifestyle, adopting regular exercise can help to
build immune system and make an individual healthy.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Alloubani, A., Saleh, A. and Abdelhafiz, I., 2018. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus as a predictive risk
factors for stroke. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 12(4),
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Dehlin, M., Jacobsson, L. and Roddy, E., 2020. Global epidemiology of gout: prevalence, incidence,
treatment patterns and risk factors. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 16(7), pp.380-390.
ERIKSON, A. and OPPEWAL, S.M., 2019. IDENTIFYING OUTCOMES IN POPULATION-BASED
NURSING. Population-Based Nursing: Concepts and Competencies for Advanced Practice,
p.25.
Labarca, G. and et. al., 2018. CPAP in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes mellitus:
systematic review and meta‐analysis. The clinical respiratory journal, 12(8), pp.2361-2368.
Laursen, T.M. and et. al., 2019. Cause-specific life years lost among persons diagnosed with
schizophrenia: is it getting better or worse?. Schizophrenia research, 206, pp.284-290.
Martami, F. and et. al., 2018. Comorbidity of gastrointestinal disorders, migraine, and tension-type
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Sabanayagam, C. and et. al., 2019. Incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy: a systematic
review. The lancet Diabetes & endocrinology, 7(2), pp.140-149.
Sakhvidi, M.J.Z. and et. al., 2018. Association between noise exposure and diabetes: a systematic review
and meta-analysis. Environmental research, 166, pp.647-657.
Online:
Diabetes, 2021 [Online] Available through: <https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes>
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DPP-4 Inhibitors, 2021 [Online] Available through: <https://diatribe.org/dpp-4-inhibitors>
Current Challenges in Diabetes Care and How to Address Them, 2018 [Online] Available through:
<https://diabetestimes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/7571-IDEAL-White-Paper-V3-
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