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Emelie Rodriguez

Professor Bryant

Expository Writing

October 20, 2020

Why is Diabetes important to understand?

As you can see from my title my research project is on why diabetes is important to

understand. I wanted this to be my topic because I realized growing up, a lot of people did not

understand and care for diabetes. I started off by going to the library’s website and searching for

any books and online articles on diabetes. From there, I worked and starring any titles that

seemed interesting and informative for my research topic.

The first book I had starred and wanted to add to my research was ​Diabetes: A History of

Race and Disease ​by ​Arleen Marcia Tuchman. I figured that if I started off with explaining the

history of diabetes, as in, when was it discovered, how did we come to understand it, etc.; it

would add more emphasis on the importance of the disease. While the book does touch on the

history of diabetes it was more about the races affected by the disease. Though I still intend to

use this book I continued looking for other sources. Eventually, I found other informational and

unique articles and books.

In looking for new articles and books I found a handful I thought to be interesting and

informational. At this point in the research, I wanted to find information about the disease and

how it could affect people differently. This is when I found​ ​a book about different diabetic

experiences called ​Rethinking Diabetes: Entanglements with Trauma, Poverty, and HIV​ by

Emily Mendenhall; and a textbook on child diabetes called​ ​Practical Endocrinology and

Diabetes in Children. ​Rethinking Diabetes goes on to speak about different people’s experiences
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with diabetes and how they were linked to other aspects of their life, such as poverty and other

illnesses. I also found information about diabetes in children and teens and all the problems it

can cause. I figured that actual textbook information would help with the credibility of my

research since all the information given was created with the intention of teaching factual facts

and educated opinions. At this point, I found historical information about the disease, personal

experience that shed a light on the different problems diabetes brings, and textbook information

on how children are affected by diabetes. I wanted to start finding articles about other topics with

diabetes and this is when I found my next two cited information.

Keep in mind that at this point in my research paper I was still trying to find works that

could help with my paper. Since I had found several books I wanted to look for medical articles

about other points in diabetes. I looked through several articles and decided to pick “​Insulin

Products and the Cost of Diabetes Treatment.” by Judith A. Johnson and “Eye Disorders and

Vision Loss Among U.S. Adults Aged 45 and Over With Diagnosed Diabetes, 2016–2017” by

Amy E. Cha, Maria A. Villarroel, and Anjel Vahratian. They were two works that shed light on

eye problems that diabetes can cause, and how costly it is to have the disease. I now had five

works for my paper and then I had realized something. I completely missed the actual

‘definition’ of diabetes and how both types are different and similar.

Now I wanted to do some research on what diabetes itself, not experiences or history, but

what diabetes really was. I wanted to find my sources from a different area so I went to google to

find some medical articles. This is how I found healthline.com and the three articles I decided to

use. I first start off with “Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: What’s the Difference?” by Corinne

O’keefe Osborn. I also wanted to have two different articles that could give more information
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about type 1 and type 2, respectively. I found both “Understanding Type 2 Diabetes” by Ann

Pietrangel, and “What is Type 1 Diabetes” by Rose Kivi.

Now that I have more information about diabetes it shows how important it is to

understand the disease because it can be detrimental to many people. And with that, more

information needs to be put out there, not just in commercials or small ads. As for the position I

will take, I will advocate for more common information about the disease and how to prevent it.

​Works Cited
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Cha, Amy E. (Ph.D., M.P.H.); Villarroel, Maria A. (Ph.D.); and Vahratian, Anjel ((Ph.D.,

M.P.H.) (2019). “Eye disorders and vision loss among U.S. adults aged 45 and over with

diagnosed diabetes, 2016-2017.” Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health

Statistics. Retrieved October 14, 2020, from

https://permanent.fdlp.gov/gpo128377/db344-h.pdf

“Eye disorders and vision loss among U.S. adults aged 45 and over with diagnosed

diabetes, 2016-2017.” is an article by several medical professionals about the statistics of

diabetes and eye disorders and how they are linked together. The authors state that

“Compared with adults without diabetes, adults with diabetes are more likely to develop

eye disorders and vision loss from eye disorders.” They continue on with this idea by

showing statistics throughout the article. They also state that adults over the age of 45

who were diabetic were most likely to have macular degeneration and glaucoma. ​This

seems like a credible source because it was created and checked by several professionals

and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ​I can use this for my paper,

because it helps showcase how diabetes is a disease that can affect or start health

problems most people would not consider or think about.

Donaldson, M. D., Gregory, J. W., Vliet, G. V., Wolfsdorf, J. I., & Raine, J. E. (2019). ​Practical

Endocrinology and diabetes in children​ (Fourth ed.). Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell. Pgs.

1-56, 115-143, 235-246

Practical Endocrinology and diabetes in children​ (Fourth ed.) is a whole textbook

created and updated by medical professionals. This book is based on diabetes and other
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health disorders in children. It goes on different topics such as puberty, obesity, thyroid

problems, and other topics that can also revolve diabetes. The authors specifically

mention what diabetes is and what it looks like in children. It also mentions other

problems that can occur in children and adolescents such as sexual development, etc.

This book appears to be credible because of its abundance of medical professionals that

write and review this textbook, plus it is the newest version of the book. ​I can use this

book to help with my research essay because I can use the information stated in the

specific chapters to shed some light on how diabetes can also affect children and

adolescents.

Johnson, Judith A. (2018). ​Insulin Products and the Cost of Diabetes Treatment.​ Congressional

Research Service. Retrieved November 19, 2018, from

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11026/3

Insulin Products and the Cost of Diabetes Treatment​ by Judith Johnson is an article based

on the history of Insulin, a much needed hormone for diabetics. It also talks about

regulations, costs, profits, etc. Johnson starts off with explaining what insulin is and why

people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes need insulin in order to carry on. Johnson says that

insulin was discovered in 1921 by the University of Toronto, and from there it has been

redesigned several times since then. The article also mentions the cost of producing

insulin and the profit margin that companies make: “A September 2018 study published

in BMJ Global Health calculates that a year’s supply of human insulin could be $48 to

$71 per person…”. ​This source seems credible based on not only the source and the

author being a professional in her field, but because of the constant sources of

information throughout the article.​ ​I can use this source in all of its entirety for my paper.
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It is a great source that explains why diabetes is important, and sheds light on problems

diabetics face on a daily basis.

Kivi, Rose (2020, June 17).​ “​What is Type 1 Diabetes​?”​ (985273592 762511605 M. Basina,

Ed.). Retrieved October 10, 2020, from

https://www.healthline.com/health/type-1-diabetes-causes-symtoms-treatments

“What is Type 1 Diabetes?” is an online article by Rose Kivi, and checked by Marina

Basina about what type 1 diabetes is and the different parts of the disease. It goes from

definitions, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatments, etc. Kivi explains that type 1

diabetes as a chronic autoimmune disease and how it can be debilitating to the patient, as

it can cause serious complications down the road. It can cause symptoms from excessive

hunger and thirst to nausea and vomiting. Kivi also talks about treatments other than

insulin, such as metformin and vaccines and how they can help slow down or lessen the

effects of the disease. ​I find this to be a credible source, because it was reviewed by a

medical professional. It also has a lot of good general information about diabetes.​ ​I think

this source is an article I will constantly be looking back too since it has so much good

information for my paper.

Mendenhall, Emily (2019). ​Rethinking diabetes: Entanglements with trauma, poverty, and HIV.​

Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. E-book

Rethinking diabetes: Entanglements with trauma, poverty, and HIV b​ y Emily Mendenhall

that creates a new perspective on what causes diabetes and how different global and local

factors can change the way diabetes is obtained and perceived. Mendenhall writes the

chapters based on bibliographies of different people of different races and social statuses
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etc. Some chapters are based on the loved ones who suffered a loss due to diabetes while

others are on people currently struggling with the disease. ​This book is credible because

the author, Emily Mendenhall, is an associate professor of global health. ​I see this book

as a useful tool in my paper because it helps create a unique perspective on the disease

and what it can cause to people of different statuses.

Osborn, Corinne O’Keefe (2019, January 14). “What's the Difference Between Type 1 and Type

2 Diabetes?” Retrieved October 10, 2020, from

https://www.healthline.com/health/difference-between-type-1-and-type-2-diabetes

“What's the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?” is an article made by

Corinne O’Keefe Osborn about the differences in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as explained

by the title. It hits on several points such as similar symptoms and treatments. According

to Osborn both types experience very similar symptoms such as fatigue and cuts that do

not heal properly. Osborn also briefly mentions the causes for type 1 and type 2. They

also mention the probability of diabetes stating that type 2 is actually more common than

type 1, with type 2 diabetes taking up 90%-95% of all diabetics in the United States. ​This

is a credible source because it was made in a credible online source, and was fact checked

by Suzanne Falck, a health care professional with her M.D.​ ​I can use this source to easily

find and reference the differences in both types, and help with my overall portion about

the disease.

Pietrangelo, Ann (2020, June 18). “Understanding Type 2 Diabetes” (985220639 762477911 D.

Weatherspoon, Ed.). Retrieved October 10, 2020, from

https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes
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“Understanding Type 2 Diabetes” is an article from healthline.com created by Ann

Pietrangelo to talk about type 2 diabetes in a more in-depth perspective. Just like the

article on type 1 diabetes, this article talks about causes, symptoms, medication,

probability, etc. Pietrangelo mentions how type 2 diabetes can be caused by a multitude

of factors that all lead to the same result of the body becoming resistant to insulin, which

is a natural hormone in the body. Something about type 2 diabetes is that it can be

regulated and managed by following certain steps, such as controlling your weight and

food intake, and exercising regularly. Pietrangelo also mentions the risks of type 2

diabetes and how certain choices can either lessen or raise the risks, like how the diet

unfolds, and healthy lifestyle choices, etc. ​This is a credible source because the

information was medically reviewed and checked by Deborah Weatherspoon, a medical

professional in her field.​ ​I see myself using this source a lot, especially because it

resonates with me more. With my grandmother having type two diabetes this is a topic I

want to put a focus on in my paper.

​Tuchman, Arleen Marcia (2020). ​Diabetes: A history of race and disease​ New Haven: Yale

University Press.

Diabetes: A history of race and disease​ By Arleen Marcia Tuchman is a book about who

can get diabetes and why they do. It creates an in-depth examination and analysis on what

diabetes looks like for people of different races, levels of wealth, levels of class, etc. Each

chapter is about a different person of a different race, ethnicity, social status, etc.

Tuchman explains how diabetes has also become a racial issue with several inferences to

today's publization of the disease. Using this method Tuchman is able to talk about how

different races and classes of people obtain and are perceived with diabetes. ​This book
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seems credible because the author is a professor of history at Vanderbilt University

specializing in historical medicine. ​I see this book as something useful for my research

because it helps create a historical background on diabetes for my research paper. It also

helps give me a strong beginning to my research, as some research topics are best started

with some historical background.