Reported Facts About Diabetes Mellitus

When we all view 2012 as far-fetched, medical researchers think anticipating 2025 is more realistic as it is computed to have a significant increase in the rates of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) occurrence especially in developing countries.

 

Why is this so?  We have to understand that the prevalence of DM is multi-factorial. The only edge well-developed countries have above developing ones is the ability to allocate funds to support their health needs.  Apart from this, factors like genetics, environmental triggers, lifestyle (i.e. diet, lack of physical exercises) and pre-existing disorders may contribute to the susceptibility of populations to DM.

 DM is a group of metabolic disorders varying in onset and target age groups. In anatomy, the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas produce beta cells that are responsible for the production of insulin.  DMs I and II (Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, respectively) occur in the event that the pancreas fails to produce significant amounts of insulin and when insulin resistance is met thus, interrupting bodily functions. Reported facts show that there are over 18 million U.S. citizens that are affected by this disorder. The World Health Organization believes that DM has reached “epidemic proportions” and expects 80% of all new cases of DM to be seen in developing countries by the year 2025. According to the

 

 Chronic complications of DM are the following:

1. Macrovascular Complications

1) Coronary artery disease

2) Cerebrovascular disease

3) Hypertension

4) Peripheral Vascular disease

5) Infection

2. Microvascular Complications

1) Retinopathy

2) Nephropathy

3. Mixed Vascular and Neuropathic Disorders

1) Ulceration and gangrene formation on the lower extremities

 

MACROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS, especially coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death in diabetics, accounting for 40-60% of all cases of diabetes-related macrovascular diseases.

 

MICROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS, such as diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the United States among adults 20-74 years of age. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the retina is deprived of oxygen-carrying blood accompanied by capillary destruction results in tissue anoxia (the lack of oxygen) which eventually leads to blindness.

Microangiopathy (the change in capillaries in the diabetic) also occurs in nephropathy as decreased oxygen supply is delivered to the kidneys and tissue anoxia also takes place and kidney failure soon transpires.

 

MIXED VASCULAR AND NEUROPATHIC DISORDERS

The complications of delayed wound healing accounts for the numerous cases of below the knee amputation (BKA) in diabetic patients especially when there is already gangrene present. Peripheral vascular neuropathy occurs when peripheral nerve endings weaken and can not perceive pain, thus leading to late management of lower extremity wounds. The delay in the management leads to wound abscess leading to gangrene formation and eventually would require amputation. 

Comments

Most Recent Articles