Diabetes is a common chronic disease that causes problems in the way the blood uses food. Glucose is the primary source of fuel for the body. When foods are digested, some of those foods are converted into glucose. The glucose is transferred into the bloodstream and is used by cells for energy. Insulin which is produced by beta cells in the pancreas is needed to help the transfer of glucose from the blood into the cells. In individuals with diabetes, this process is impaired.
According to CDC (2015), approximately 29.1 million people in the United States of America have been diagnosed with diabetes. Worldwide, approximately 371 million people have been identified (Alotabi, Al-Ganmi, Gholizabeh, & Perry, 2016). Diabetes is a chronic disease that is categorized into the following major types: Type 1 diabetes, which is defined as the disease caused by having either too little or no insulin; Type 2 diabetes which is due to the cells not being able to use the insulin, thereby causing glucose to build up in the blood (Alotabi, Al_Ganmi, Gholizabeh, & Perry, …show more content…
The incidence of Type 1 diabetes is increasing, and can double the burden of disease in Type 1 diabetes by 2020. Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells. Although an extensive scientific research has yielded valuable insights into the Type 1 diabetes, there 's little information known that triggers the autoimmune process.
According to Vehik and Dabelea (2011), the recent increase in prevalence is happening commonly among young children and those with moderate genetic susceptibility. Many environmental factors have been linked, but no major determinants have been clearly identified, and the mechanisms of involvement remain elusive. The research directed at understanding the possible reasons for this increase such as the following: the gut microbiota, the role of viruses, early life feeding patterns, perinatal factors, and childhood growth