Introduction: A Breakdown of Diabetes
The estimated total population of Mexico is 130 million. Shockingly, the estimated number of US adults with diabetes is also 130 million. Let that sink in for a second. If you have diabetes, you are not alone in managing this difficult disease. November is National Diabetes Month. This focused month aims to awaken those who have it but remain unaware through proactivity and education while improving current treatment options which may even lead to a cure. Let’s aim to be proactive this National Diabetes Month!
Overview of Types
We all likely recognize words like insulin and glucose, but how they relate to each other in this condition can be confusing. To put it simply, your body uses sugar for energy. The sugar in your bloodstream is called glucose which must get to your cells in order to be used for energy. Insulin is the hormone your pancreas makes to help sugar in your blood enter your cells. When this process is prevented, it’s usually in one of two ways:
- Type 1 diabetes – you don’t make enough insulin and your immune system attacks the cells that make it in your pancreas
- Type 2 diabetes – you can make insulin but your cells don’t respond well to it so you can’t get enough, which is called insulin resistance.
In both cases, too much sugar stays in your blood, and not enough reaches your cells. Over time this can cause serious health issues like:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Eye problems
- Dental disease
- Nerve damage
- Foot problems
Targeting Treatment
Due to the seriousness of its effects, researchers are devoted to investigating diabetes medicines and cures further. Finding new ways to improve current treatment options and enhance present-day management methods for the diabetic community is at the heart of clinical trials research.
Various treatment options are available including insulin pumps, once-weekly insulin injections, and oral medications. With type 2 diabetes, changes in diet, exercise, and weight loss can also have a distinct impact on the disease.
Researchers are studying the full array of diabetes medicines to bring improved options to the diabetes community. Many studies are centered around new types of insulin, the most effective times to take diabetes medicines, and new types of monitoring devices and delivery systems. Each of these studies has the potential to drastically improve the quality of life for an estimated 130 million affected individuals! Volunteers in these studies help in the quest to find new ways to prevent, detect, and treat this disease.
Be Proactive – Recruitment Possibilities
Are you living with diabetes? Be proactive this national diabetes month! Advances in treatments are made possible through partnerships with patients just like you. As a study volunteer, you can also learn more about your condition and may even gain access to potential new therapies not yet on the market. To learn more about contributing to the advancement of diabetes treatments through participating in clinical research studies, click here to view a list of opportunities in your area.
Resources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes#types
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/mexico-population/\
