Tradarius Luckett

Dr. Joe Goerge

15 March 2019

ENG 101

Life as a Diabetic

In the last twenty-years more than twenty-nine million people in the United States have

gotten diabetes since 2010. More than one in three adults have type two diabetes and fifteen to

thirty percent of people will have diabetes within five years due to the lack of a healthy lifestyle

choices. It is crucial that diabetics live a well-managed life that fulfills all their necessary

lifestyle requirements.

There is a common misconception that diabetes is only when a person's blood sugar

levels are unordinary. Diabetes occurs when there is an imbalance of insulin, due to the cell

inability to bind with glucose. When food is digested, it is broken into components,

carbohydrates, simple sugars and primary glucose. Glucose is a source of energy for the body’s

cells, but to provide energy the glucose needs to leave the bloodstream to get inside the cell. This

is where the problem occurs with diabetes. Insulin in a healthy person, leaves the bloodstream

and will bind to a cell, but that changes for a person who has type two diabetes. The insulin is

unable to bind to a cell, preventing the glucose from entering the cell. Therefore the cell has no

fuel from glucose. The unsaturated glucose then returns to the bloodstream.
 Type 2 diabetes is when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin in the body or the

body is unable to use it correctly (Watkins). Two key components in type two diabetes are insulin

resistance and B-cell dysfunction (Waine). The Beta cells are cells in the pancreas that produce,

store and release the hormone insulin (Waine). As the blood glucose levels begins to rise the beta

cells respond by secreting some of their stored insulin while at the same time increasing

production of hormone. When the body’s cells resist the normal effect of insulin it creates a

condition called insulin resistance. The lack of insulin causes an increase in blood glucose

concentration and body cells are resistant to its effects.

Diabetes is a disease that can be attained through bad lifestyle choices as well as being

inherited by a biological parent. Just like eye or hair color, those who have type two diabetes can

pass it on to their children. In Gloyn and McCarthy article of Genetics: How the UKPDS

Contributed to Determining the Genetic landscape of Type 2 Diabetes says, that “Pancreatic B-

cell function and/or mass as the primary progenitor of this disease with ~ 70% of genes playing a

role in islet function and influencing insulin secretion” (Gloyn). In the article Gloyn presented

evidence that the pancreatic b-cell plays a major role in passing type two diabetes to their

offspring. Even though diabetes can be inherited from a person's parents, bad lifestyle choices

can also result in contraction of diabetes.

Poor lifestyle choices can result in one attracting diabetes. The primary reasons people

get diabetes is due to unhealthy eating and a lack of exercise. In the United States people tend to

buy food based on convenience, taste, and cost. It just so happens that 1 in 3 US citizens eat fast

food everyday. Although fast food is good, convenient and cost efficient, it can have hazardous

effects on your body.

 When a person's body weight is more than twenty percent above the recommended height

body weight mass index (BMI) they become at risk of having type two diabetes. In Waine article

on Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes says, “Data indicate that it is the distribution of fat – most

specifically visceral fat – that is the major risk factor for type 2 diabetes”. Waine provides

evidence that visceral fat plays a role in type two diabetes that cause the body to go into a fatal

state. Therefore, It is essential that people make it a habit of eating healthy and exercising as

preventative steps to getting diabetes.

For those who have diabetes, this is not the end. Although there is no cure for diabetes,

when treated correctly it can go in remission. Eventually resulting in the diabetes being

undetectable. This is only if the person takes all their prescribed medication and make positive

lifestyle choices.

When choosing the right meal to eat, one should try to balance out fruits, vegetables,

grains and meats. Meat tends to have a lot of fat and calories, which in turn causes a person to

gain weight. As for meat they also provide the body with a good source of rich protein and high

levels of iron to help in the reproduction of new red blood cells. Sugar and carbohydrates are the

biggest problem for diabetics. Carbohydrates are a large group of organic compounds in food,

with living tissues including sugar, starch and cellulose. Carbohydrates provide a significant

amount starch that can raise the blood glucose level. These foods can include things such as

white bread, and mashed potatoes (Lazarou). As a diabetic, there are some things that you should

avoid eating, because it will cause a rise in your blood sugar. These things include natural

sweetener (fruit), sugar, soda and high levels of carbohydrates foods. Fruits that have natural

sweetener in them that tend to cause a rise in blood sugar.

 Vegetables are a key part of having a balanced diet. According to the American Diabetes

Association, non-starchy vegetables are the best choice for those who have diabetes. Frozen

vegetables are the best, because it contains low amounts of sodium. Many non-starchy food

contains vitamin C, A and K. These vitamins build a healthy immune system, protect from

damage and heals wounds. Starchy vegetables have a high amount of carbohydrates that can

raise blood glucose level at a fast rate (Abuissa).

Physical exercise is a key factor in keeping your diabetes under control and at a balance

level. Fitness is any kind of physical activity that involves walking, running, or even dancing.

Having a regular schedule of fitness during the week will help diabetics lower their blood

glucose and manage their weight. According to the American Diabetes Association, when a

diabetic is active in physical activity their cells become more sensitive to insulin, so it can work

more efficiently. Diabetics should emerge themselves in a healthy environment that is conducive

to stimulating exercise. These include aerobics, stretching, extending flexibility and cardio.

Working-out helps these muscles promote the circulation of oxygen through the blood, increase

the heart rate helps with the body's use of insulin. Those who have type two diabetes should do at

least two hours and thirty minutes of aerobic exercise each week. Aerobic exercises tend to burn

more fat and be the most beneficial for diabetics. Strength exercises are also beneficial. Strength

exercise helps the body become more sensitive to insulin and can lower blood glucose. Physical

fitness plays an important role when it comes to diabetes. Two main exercise that diabetics

should do is aerobic and strength. Along with a healthy diet and exercise, diabetics must take

prescribed medicine.

The most common pill for diabetes is Metformin. In C.J Bailey article on Treating Insulin

Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes with Metformin and Thiazolidinediones states that metformin
decreases insulin resistance by various insulin-dependent and insulin-independent mechanism,

which reduces insulin faster. The metformin prevents their blood levels from becoming too high

or low. If a diabetic does not take their metformin and has an unhealthy meal it can cause them to

feel weak, dizzy and very tired, which could cause serious problems with their health such as

shock, seizures or coma. Those who have type two diabetes, but their sugar cannot be a control

with the pills receive injections. Some type two diabetics are on both the pill and the insulin

injection, due to their high levels of blood sugar. The insulin injection is a substitute for insulin

that is normally produced by the body. It helps move sugar from the blood into other body

tissues where it is used for energy.

Making healthy lifestyle choices can have a tremendous effect on your life. It is essential

to maintain a balance of healthy eating and exercise, for both the prevention and maintained of

diabetes.
 Bibliography

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