Diabetes is a calamitous disease that is extremely prevalent in Canadian society, and diagnosis of the disease can have a profound impact on an individual’s life. Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which a person has high blood sugar, either due to a lack of insulin production, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. My Grandmother was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 33, and ever since then her life has been turned upside down. Diabetes not only affects the body’s ability to physically function, but the burden of managing the disease can have a devastating effect on mental health. The personal financial costs of managing diabetes can prove to be incredibly burdensome for diabetics, and the disease places tremendous stress on the Canadian healthcare system. In addition, diabetics are forced to follow an extremely strict and structured diet, as there are an exponential amount of foods that diabetics have to avoid in order to effectively manage their blood sugar levels. Diabetics are subject to a multitude of significant issues due to their disease, and these include issues pertaining to quality of life, finances, and diet.
A deteriorating quality of life is commonly associated with diabetics as they struggle to cope with their diabetes, and there are currently more than 3 million Canadians suffering from diabetes. Diabetes can cause a significant amount of physical damage to the body, and some common effects of the disease are vision problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, and heart and circulation damage. In addition to physical damage, diabetes can do a great deal of psychological harm, and the constant stress and worry associated with managing the disease can lead to many serious mental disorders. Because obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the main causes of diabetes, diagnosis of the disease can lead to feelings of guilt, shame and anger. These feelings can cause diabetics to develop depression, and diabetics who are depressed tend to neglect their medications or not follow treatment advice. My grandmother has found that the continuous failure over the years to find a cure for the disease has caused her to experience feelings of depression, and she fears that she will to live have carry on the rest of her life experiencing the daily struggles of managing the disease. Diabetes can take a serious toll on both physical and psychological health, and coping with the disease can prove to be an extremely challenging experience.
The costs of managing diabetes can take a significant toll on the pocketbook, and in addition the disease puts a tremendous amount of financial stress on the Canadian healthcare system. People in today’s society already have enough financial concerns in their lives to contend with, and the costs of managing diabetes only compound these problems. The personal financial costs for medication and supplies range from $1,000 to $15,000 a year, with the majority of these costs coming from insulin, syringes or a pump, and blood glucose testing supplies. There are a number of indirect costs as well, as you have to add in the travel costs and time lost from work for families who must accompany children to clinics, hospitals, and doctor's offices. Those with no access to third-party health insurance are most affected, as they have to pay for the costs of medication and testing equipment straight out of their own pockets. Diabetes also provides a significant financial burden for the Canadian healthcare system, as diabetes and its complications cost the healthcare system an estimated 13 billion dollars annually, with this figure expected to rise to over 16 billion by 2020. The direct and indirect costs of managing diabetes can amount to a great deal of financial stress, and the costs of the disease put a significant amount of pressure on the Canadian healthcare system.
Diabetics have to effectively manage their diet in order to keep their disease in check, and it is essential that they eat the right kinds of foods in order to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Diabetics have to be able to resist the temptation for some of the most delicious foods our society has to offer, as there multitudinous foods that can be dangerous for diabetics to eat. The primary food groups that diabetics should avoid at all costs are fatty foods and carbohydrate foods, as the ingestion of these foods can lead to dangerous changes in blood sugar levels. My grandmother always has to be cautious as to what she consumes, and some of the primary carbohydrate foods that she has to avoid include white rice, white bread, white pasta, sugar in all forms, jams, honey, and potatoes. My grandmother also has to severely regulate the amount of fatty foods she eats, which include red meat, milk, milk products, saturated oil, and fried foods. Diabetics also have to ensure that their meals are evenly distributed out the day, and my grandmother has to take an insulin shot at least 20 minutes before every meal in order to maintain a healthy blood sugar level. It is essential that diabetics follow a structured eating plan in order to manage blood sugar levels, and dietary management is necessary in order to keep the disease at a controllable level.
From hearing of the experiences of my grandmother and many others in relation to the daily struggles they face in coping with their disease, I have gained a new appreciation for just how much of a burden diabetes can be. The true destructive power of diabetes in regard to physical and psychological health is awe-inspiring, and diabetics are often overwhelmed by the feelings of angst and helplessness that the disease brings about. Financial issues only compound these problems, and the total cost of the disease within Canada is absolutely shocking. In addition to these issues, diabetics have to be constantly cautious and aware of the foods that they are eating. By completing this project, I have gained a new respect for diabetics and the struggles that they endure, and I have come to realize just how much of an impact the disease has on day-to-day life.
By Justin Schleimer
Websites:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5121356_psychological-effects-adultonset-diabetes.html
http://chrissieinbelgium.blogspot.com/
http://journal.diabetes.org/diabetesspectrum/00v13n1/pg21.htm
http://www.thestar.com/SpecialSections/Diabetes/article/272059
http://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/what/prevalence/
http://www.diabetesmellitus-information.com/diabetes-diet-management.htmVideos:
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xRH_qTAII8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpdlJ79ACCo
Very well researched and written.
ReplyDeleteNice job Justin.