| Children
not safe from epidemic
Jennifer McRae
Mesa Legend
Of all the many diseases and health problems faced today, a common
afflication that many children, teenagers and even young adults
are being diagnosed with is Type I Diabetes.
Although the disease is usually diagnosed in people under the age
of 20, Type I Diabetes may occur at any age.
Type I, or more commonly known as Juvenile Diabetes, appears to
occur when something in the environment, a toxin or a virus, causes
the immune system to attack the pancreas.
When the pancreas is attacked, it destroys the cells of the pancreas
halting insulin production. Production of insulin is a key function
that helps move certain nutrients, primarily glucose, throughout
the body.
Ellen Bramoweth, a diabetes instructor in the nursing department
at MCC revealed that, “Everything a person with Diabetes does,
effects their blood sugar levels. If someone is active, it affects
their levels. If someone does not participate in a lot of exercise,
it affects their levels.”
Type I Diabetes can be detected through a few types of blood samplings.
Fasting Blood Sugar tests requires that the patient not eat for
up to 12 hours. Bramoweth stated that “after that time, the
blood is tested and if the level is 126 or higher on more than two
occasions it is indicative that the person has diabetes.”
Diabetes can also be detected through a Glucose Tolerance test.
A person is given a highly sugar-concentrated drink and then blood
is tested in 30 minute intervals to see how the body is handling
the sugar.
Bramoweth went on to further explain that there are three major
symptoms related to Diabetes. They are commonly known as the three
P’s. Polydipsia, which is increased thirst, Polyphagia which
is increased hunger, and Polyuria which is frequent urination which
leads to dehydration.
Many people with Type I Diabetes live long, healthy lives. The key
is keeping your blood sugar levels within a healthy range. This
can be done by proper food managment and exercise, although that
is sometimes not enough.
A third necessity in controlling this disease is with the use of
insulin injections.
All people with Juvenile Diabetes must use these insulin injections
to maintain a healthy blood sugar level. This requires a small needle
injection just slightly under the skin four to eight times a day
to administer the insulin that the body cannot create.
The insulin pump is another form of injection and is fairly common
among those with Juvenile Diabetes. The pump sends a steady measured
amount of insulin through a flexible piece of plastic to a small
needle that is inserted just below the skin.
According to Lynn Breese, a MCC instructor in the CHA program, “Healthcare
expenses for persons with diabetes far exceed the $132 billion dollar
figure from 2002. If we could improve diabetes management, glucose
control, blood pressure control...we could potentially reduce diabetes
complications.”
Ellen Bramoweth will be speaking on Living Well with Diabetes at
noon, April 4, on the Southern and Dobson campus Kiva Room.
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