The World Diabetes Day is celebrated each year on the 14th of November to commemorate the birthday of Frederick Banting, who along with Charles Best, discovered Insulin in the year 1921.
The theme chosen this year is Diabetes in the Disadvantaged and the Vulnerable.
7 million people fall prey to the disease each year, with a 230 million being currently affected.
Diabetes is the major cause of kidney failure, blindness and stroke worldwide.
The pancreatic beta cells produce the insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune disease, in which the body is immune system attacks the beta cells and destroys them.
Type 2 diabetes is brought about when the body cells do not respond to insulin that is produced or, if the produced insulin is not adequate enough for the demands.
Most often diabetes goes undetected due to the harmless nature of its symptoms, which include frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger, increased irritability, weight loss, fatigue and blurred vision.
Studies carried out recently have indicated that early detection and treatment of diabetes is capable of alleviating its severe, long-term complications. It is possible to keep the disease under check by modifying one is lifestyle, dietary habits and by the timely availing of appropriate treatment. The silver lining to this dismal scenario is that excellent treatments exist which, however, it is not available universally.
It is important for all concerned, including the public, the medical specialists and the policy makers to ensure that these treatments reaches of everyone, especially the disadvantaged and the vulnerable, in order to combat this potentially debilitating disease, which is now the bane of the developing and the developed world alike.
Source : Med India.
No comments:
Post a Comment