diabetes

Diabetes by Adriana Hickling

What is it?

In the United States alone there are about 18 million people who have diabetes. There are two forms of diabetes. Type 1 and type 2. In simple terms diabetes means that there is too much blood sugar left in the blood stream than is being transferred into the cells of the body. The pancreas is a producer of insulin and when food is eaten and digested insulin is produced to break down the sugars from the food and then the sugar can be moved into the cells of the body. Diabetes is formed when the pancreas stops producing or slows down the amount of insulin that it creates to break down the blood sugar, therefore leaving the sugar in the blood stream with no where to go.

Type 1 diabetes is a genetic disease and is rare that is most commonly found in children. Some of the symptoms include: Type 2 diabetes though it may be genetic it is mostly a self inflicted disease due to poor management of health and self discipline. Symptoms include
 * Frequent urination
 * Unusual thirst
 * Extreme hunger
 * Unusual weight loss
 * Extreme fatigue and Irritability
 * Any symptoms from the type 1 diabetes list
 * frequent infections
 * blurred visions
 * cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
 * tingling/numbness in the hands and feet
 * recurring skin, gum or bladder infections

How does this relate to Native Americans?

Diabetes has always been an increasing issue in the United States. With the amount of food that is at the disposal of each american it is extremely easy to lack self control. Eating and having no control over one's diet is non beneficial to the health of the individual. Type 2 diabetes is a self inflicted disease that can be prevented by proper diet, training and education from a doctor. However for many eating is a way of copping with feelings,some may eat because they are bored or because they lack self confidence in which the person may switch to food to find security in. Obesity is another factor that leads to having diabetes. Change of diet in the Native Americans has been a big issue due to the switch from a more high nutritiousness diet of agriculture living to the high fat and high calorie diet that the Natives have drawn to.

Here is a video clip

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Site of references

Oswalt, Wendell H. // This Land Was Theirs: A __Study__ of Native North Americans. // New York: Oxford __ University __ Press, 2009

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