Running head: DIABETES MELLITUS 1

The Effects of Diabetes Mellitus Disease

Jui Ya (Ria) Cheng

St. John’s College Junior College

DIABETES MELLITUS 2

Table of Contents

Abstract................................................................................................................................3

The Effects of Diabetes Mellitus Disease............................................................................4

Conclusion...........................................................................................................................8

References............................................................................................................................9
DIABETES MELLITUS 3

Abstract

In the video “Diabetes: The Hidden Killer”, the features of diabetes mellitus and how this disease

affects an individual, the community, and the society at large were conveyed. Diabetes mellitus

refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (Mayo Clinic, 2019).

Although the video mainly focuses on type 1 diabetes, chronic diabetes conditions include type 1

diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes —

when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as

diabetes — and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy but may resolve after the

baby is delivered. This paper will critique the causes, treatment, and impacts of diabetes mellitus

as mentioned in the video.

DIABETES MELLITUS 4

The Effects of Diabetes Mellitus Disease

Firstly, the video begins with an introduction to the dangers of diabetes mellitus, referring

to it as “the hidden killer”. Diabetes mellitus is referred to as “the hidden killer” because it

damages the body slowly until it becomes irreversible. Its implications creep up on the patient

and are hard to overcome once its full effects set in. Certain complications mentioned in the

video that are caused by diabetes mellitus include heart failure, kidney disease, and amputation

of the feet and leg. According to the video, this disease is quickly becoming an epidemic in the

UK and abroad. In fact, the prevalence of diabetes is three times higher than all the cancers

combined together. In recent years, the prevalence of diabetes in children are also increasing

staggeringly. These alarming statistics mentioned in the video prove effective in conveying the

importance of a discussion on diabetes mellitus, as its impacts may become too great to

overcome in the future if we do not do something to stop this epidemic.

Secondly, to understand the prevalence and severity of diabetes mellitus, we must discuss

the causes of it. Chronic diabetes conditions include type I and type II diabetes. Type I diabetes is

genetic and is rare, occurring only in 1 in 10 diabetes cases. Type I diabetes occurs because the

body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting

in low or no insulin in the body, causing blood sugar levels to spike (WebMD, 2019). According

to the video, the more common type of diabetes is type II diabetes, which occurs when the

body’s natural insulin system stops working. Because of this, blood sugar levels become high

and clog up veins and arteries, leading to acute complications. In addition to what was

mentioned in the video, type II diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or

when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. Exactly why this happens is unknown,

although genetics and environmental factors, such as being overweight and inactive, seem to be
DIABETES MELLITUS 5

contributing factors. Although the video discusses the causes of diabetes mellitus efficiently, it

does not dive into the symptoms of diabetes. Some of the signs and symptoms of type I and type

II diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss,

fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, and frequent infections.

Moreover, the video shows the effects of diabetes mellitus on the lives of the patients and

their loved ones through several specific diabetic cases all over the UK. For instance, one of the

patients mentioned, John O’Hagan, worries that he will not be around to spend time with his two

children if he does not change his eating habits and lifestyle. John shared that he suffered

depression from as early as fifteen, works in a stressful job, and had parents who showed their

love and affection through food. These factors most likely contributed to John using food as

stress relief and as a coping mechanism, resulting in his current diabetic condition. John

currently faces dementia, strokes, heart disease, and other complications as a result of type II

diabetes. Another patient mentioned was Norma Edmonds, who lost both her feet to diabetes and

may never be fully mobile. John Jameson, another diabetic patient, is experiencing deteriorated

kidney function and now needs dialysis. By using specific scenarios, the video is able to convey

the severity of diabetes mellitus and how it affects individual lives, as diabetes takes a toll on not

only the physical health of the patient but the mental health of the family as well. In addition to

what was mentioned in the video, diabetes takes a toll on almost every organ in your body,

impacting the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, gastrointestinal tract, gums and

teeth (Diabetes Co. UK, 2020). Common effects include heart diseases such as coronary heart

disease, retinopathy resulting in blindness, kidney failure, and neuropathy resulting in gangrene

in feet and legs.

DIABETES MELLITUS 6

Furthermore, diabetes mellitus not only impacts the individual and their families, but also

the wider community and the society at large. As mentioned in the video, diabetes mellitus has

grave financial implications for the NHS, which stands for National Health Service in the UK.

There are currently 4 million people in the UK with type II diabetes, which places a huge price

tag in economic cost and mobilization of staff and resources. In fact, the NHS spends a billion

pound per year just on treating foot ulcers and amputations because of diabetes. Although the

government is trying to help by placing sugar tax on soft drinks and implementing a childhood

obesity strategy, tougher actions are needed to prevent this epidemic from spreading. With the

total cost for treating type II diabetes in the UK being a whopping 10% of the NHS budget, it is

clear that the situation is not getting better. These economic implications mean that the NHS

must decide which conditions to treat due to a lack of budget and leave people with greater

health needs helpless. Societies are further affected because the severity of diabetes mellitus

means that diabetics may not be able to be employed due to their chronic condition.

Communities are affected as we lose our loved ones to this merciless disease. We are affected as

we watch individuals who were perfectly healthy before go through dialysis, amputations, and

more severe treatment due to their bad diet and lifestyle. In addition, the loss in productivity

from the increased unemployment rate due to diabetes mellitus takes a toll on several businesses

and the society on a whole as we lose viable individuals.

Although the implications of diabetes are great, diabetes mellitus can be treated through

several methods if treatment begins early. Type I diabetes can be treated with insulin injections,

exercise, and specific diets to prevent high blood sugar levels. Foods that type I diabetics should

avoid include simple carbohydrates and trans fats. Type II diabetes can be treated with weight

reduction, a specific diet, and exercise. Type II diabetics should keep a diet with low calories,
DIABETES MELLITUS 7

low carbohydrates, low saturated fats, and high fiber. When these measures fail to control the

condition, diabetic medications are prescribed. Some diabetic medications mentioned in the

video include Metformin, insulin injections, and Glimepiride. Although a healthy diet and

increased exercise can lower blood sugar levels significantly and combat the effects of diabetes,

it is very difficult for diabetics to change their chronic habits. A proposed treatment for type II

diabetics mentioned in the video is bariatric surgery. This is a gastric bypass surgery that creates

a small stomach. Bariatric surgery is a weight-loss surgery that removes the main part of the

stomach and leaves only a narrow tube, allowing only small amounts of food to be consumed.

This surgery can also kickstart the body’s insulin system as is described as being a cure for

diabetes according to the video. Although bariatric surgery has several drawbacks such as its

high costs and surgical risks, it can result in a lower economic cost on the NHS in the long run

and seems like the only way to control the current diabetes epidemic.

Lastly, it must be mentioned that diabetes is preventable. Methods to prevent diabetes

include weight loss, following a healthy eating plan low in sugar and fat, frequent exercise, and

quitting smoking. The triggers for diabetes include bad diet, lack of exercise, and habits such as

smoking. A change in lifestyle can severely impact your risk of getting diabetes, especially if

diabetes runs in the family. In addition to exercising and eating a healthy diet, one should also be

healthy mentally as high stress can also increase the risk of getting diabetes.
DIABETES MELLITUS 8

Conclusion

In conclusion, the causes, treatment, and impacts of diabetes mellitus as mentioned in the

video “Diabetes: The Hidden Killer” were discussed. Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of

diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar. Chronic diabetes conditions include type I

and type II diabetes. Type I diabetes is genetic. It occurs because the body’s immune system

attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in low or no insulin in

the body, causing blood sugar levels to spike. Type II diabetes develops when the body becomes

resistant to insulin or when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. Exactly why this

happens is unknown, although genetics and environmental factors, such as being overweight and

inactive, seem to be contributing factors. Some of the signs and symptoms of type I and type II

diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss,

fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, and frequent infections. Common effects

of diabetes include heart diseases such as coronary heart disease, retinopathy resulting in

blindness, kidney failure, and neuropathy resulting in gangrene in feet and legs. Diabetes can be

treated with a healthy diet plan, exercise, and medication; surgery is required in severe cases.
DIABETES MELLITUS 9

References

"Knowing How Diabetes Affects Your Body Can Help You Look After Your Body and Prevent

Diabetic Complications from Developing." Diabetes, 27 Jan. 2020,

www.diabetes.co.uk/how-does-diabetes-affect-the-body.html.

MayoClinic. "Diabetes - Symptoms and Causes." Mayo Clinic, 8 Aug. 2019,

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444.

Robert Ferry Jr., MD, FAAP. "Diabetes & Treatment, Type 1 & 2: Medications, Guidelines &

Diet." MedicineNet, www.medicinenet.com/diabetes_treatment/article.htm#alpha-

glucosidase_inhibitors.

"Types of Diabetes Mellitus." WebMD, 13 Aug. 2019, www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/types-

of-diabetes-mellitus.

WebMD. "An Overview of Type 1 Diabetes." WebMD, 24 Jan. 2019,

www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-1-diabetes.

Cover Page:(1)

- Title, name, school name centered and double-spaced

Abstract/Introduction:(2)

- Introduction strongly conveys topic, subtopics, and specific thesis statement.

Content:(5)

- Paper clearly discusses topics and subtopics; it is strongly organized with transitions
linking all topics.
- Sources contain only peer-reviewed research.
- Meets length requirement of 2 page minimum or unless otherwise stated by lecturer
- Each paragraph has a topic sentence
- Each paragraph relates to the thesis
- Paragraphs are logically organized
- Supporting statements are relevant & do not state the obvious
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- Transitions used & within paragraphs

- The paper is virtually free of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Conclusion:(1)

- Conclusion strongly reflects key points

- Insightful discussion of impact of the researched material on topic.
APA Format:(5)

- No APA errors are seen with page format.

- Paper is written in a scholarly style.
- All sources are correctly written in the in-text citation and on the References page.
- Entire paper is double-spaced with 1” margins
- 12pt font, New Times Roman
- Correct Running Head
Reference:(10)

- All references and citations are correctly written and present

- Page is titled References & is centred
- References are alphabetical
- Minimum of 3 CREDIBLE sources
- Sources listed are cited at least one time within the body of the paper
- References include all info required for APA style
- Punctuation is accurate
- Capitalization is correct
- Hanging indent is used for entries longer than 1 line
Total 25 points