Diabetes Pathophysiology - How Environmental Changes Can Influence the Incidence of Diabetes

Pathophysiology is that branch in science that deals with the study of the changes in mechanical, physical and biochemical functions brought about by a disease. One such disease that brings pathophysiologcal changes is diabetes. Diabetes pathophysiology therefore deals on the various changes brought by the incidence of diabetes as a disease.

As there are three types of diabetes, the diabetes pathophysiology will also vary in relation to the symptoms and complications involved in each type of diabetic condition wherein, the gestation type is only a prelude to type 2 diabetes.

What Recent Studies Show about Diabetes Pathophysiology in the American Population

About 65% of Americans today are considered as overweight and that it is estimated that 1/4 of the US population is suffering from diabetes, which is estimated to be around 21 million Americans.

The US ranks third in the world for having the most number of people afflicted with diabetes, trailing behind India who ranks as number one and China as the second. It is reported that the epidemic is concerned more with obesity being an underlying cause of diabetes.

Those born after the year 2000 are said to be already at risk of developing diabetes and this concerns 33% of the male population, 39% of the female wherein 50% of this will be Hispanic women. Based on assessment of medical facts and figures, the results indicate that cardiovascular diseases will be the eventual cause of fatalities.

Asians who were not among those included in high statistics before has now a high incidence of diabetic suffering population. Where the existence of the American fast food chains being considered, like in Korea where 10% of the population is diagnosed as diabetic.

Diabetes Type 1

The underlying causes of Type 1 diabetes, being genetic disposition, environmental exposure to virus, toxins, stress factors and how it affects the beta-cells of the pancreas to produce insulin are all likely influences of diabetes pathophysiology in the society or community.

In short, the present day generation acquired their insulin deficiency from parents counted in the previous diabetic statistics.

With these factors considered, diabetes today commonly occurs from puberty age of 10 to 14 years of age, and the majority of those who developed diabetes type 1 became full-fledge diabetics before they reached the age of 30.

The basic characteristics evident among the sufferers are the symptomatic signs of hyperglycemia or borderline diabetes, intense thirst and unstinted hunger, frequency in urination, weight loss and low energy levels.

Diabetes Type 2

In Diabetes Type 2 where the sufferer is insulin resistant, the changes in the environment caused an individual to gain weight and develop all sorts of fat found in all the wrong places, wherein belly fat is the most harmful. In fact, childhood obesity has grown into epidemic proportions globally and early diagnosis treatment and management is now a global concern.

The genes among these children were not in question but their habits as they grew older as influenced by their current environment have changed. As they enter obesity at an early age, more and more substances are produced by the body to cause insulin resistance. Hence, the current statistics of type 2 diabetes include those belonging to the age range of 10 to 19.

It is quite evident therefore that eating habits and lifestyle as influenced by a society where children are now more engaged in less activity like video games and virtual recreations. Diabetes pathophysiology can include organ malfunction which may start from the liver resulting to insulin resistance.

Hence, parents who are supposed to be more knowledgeable should become aware of the fact that over feeding their young ones and keeping them confined in front of video consoles are not the best methods of providing a good future for their children.