Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Diabetes mellitus

Cancer and Diabetes are common diseases although no one can really explain why. These diseases have more differences than similarities, but can have the same outcome if not taken care of properly. Cancer ranks the second leading cause of death, while diabetes rank number seven on the fatality scale worldwide. There is evidence that says people with diabetes are at a greater risk for many forms of cancer. Studies show that some medications used to treat diabetes are associated with increased or a reduced risk of cancer.


The mortality rate of each has increased in recent years, but with proper diet and a healthy lifestyle, these diseases can sometimes be controlled. Cancer and diabetes have the same risk factors which include age, gender, and race, and obesity, lack of exercise, smoking and alcohol. You should lose weight and eat healthy if you are at risk for either of these two diseases. For your diet, incorporating fruits and vegetables is a step in the right direction. According to Bettermedicine. com scientists still have not found a real cure for diabetes.

With regular medical care, and taking care of yourself, you can manage your diabetes; reducing considerably the risk of serious complications such as heart disease and stroke. The treatment for diabetes varies depending on what kind of diabetes you have. Managing all forms of diabetes include regular monitoring of blood sugar levels; eating a well-balanced, healthy diet, and following a regular exercise program. Insulin is the most common diabetic drug on the shelf today. It can be injected or taken orally task d presentation or report.

Beyond medications and exercise there are other things you can do to control diabetes which include, counting carbohydrates, make sure you keep hydrated, and keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels under control. When these levels get too high, it can cause cardiac arrest. If treatment is not done properly, many complications can arise in the patient. High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and organs in the body. This can lead to severe complications such as disability, kidney damage, and possible amputation of the arms, legs, or feet, stroke and heart disease.

Diabetes also can be life threatening if you let it get out of control. Metformin, a treatment for diabetes, is becoming a potential anti-cancer medication. The medication is used to reduce the insulin resistance in the body. Clinicaltrials. gov have ten ongoing, registered studies underway, trying to prove the benefits Metformin has on cancer patients. Scientists have done research and have determined that Metformin could be the cause of some cancers in diabetic patients.

With this increase of risks, the doctor who is treating the patient must make sure they are aware of the association with Metformin and cancer, and makes sure the patient gets the appropriate cancer screenings done in a timely manner. Treatment for any cancers depend on where it starts in the body. Where the cancer starts is how it is named. If a cancer starts in the lungs and goes to the brain, it is still considered a lung cancer. Cancers, such as Leukemia, can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

There is a dangerous problem with radiation and chemotherapy treatments. When a patient does these two treatments it not only is designed to kill cancer cells, but it also kills the healthy cells that surround the infected area. The difference between treating the two diseases is, in diabetes you are putting something in your body (insulin) to control the disease and in cancer you are taking something out (bad cells) to control the disease. These treatments do not ensure a way to cure these diseases, but maybe managing them a little better.

(2011) Diabetes can take a toll on the body. It can affect the patients’ feet, eyes, nerves, and kidneys. In the eyes, it does damage to the retina of the eye, causing a condition called Diabetic Retinopathy. Symptoms from this condition include ring, blurry or double vision, and pain and pressure in the eyes, and difficulty seeing. According to the American Diabetes Association between 12,000 and 24,000 diabetics lose their eyesight because of this disease. This disease also affects the nerves. This is called Neuropathy.

Symptoms of Neuropathy include numbness in the feet and legs, and in the arms and hands. The patient may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, shooting pains in the legs, tingling or burning sensations, and can even become dizzy with quick movements. Diabetes is the most common cause for amputation of the arms, legs, and feet. High blood pressure along with high cholesterol can raise the risk of stroke and heart disease in the diabetic patient. Diabetes can also cause hardening of the arteries.

Blood cancers, such as Leukemia, start in the bone marrow. This type of cancer is much more deadly than some cancers we know of today, but it does not turn into a tumor like some cancers do. Leukemia travels to all different parts of the body and will kill off all of the healthy cells, and the ability for them to reproduce. For example, in blood cancers the red and white cells must be regenerated systematically in order for a person to get enough nutrients and oxygen throughout their circulatory system.

This is necessary to keep vital organs in working condition such as the heart, liver, and lungs. If a person cannot reproduce, healthy cells and organs start to die. They need each other to live. When this happens the body is overtaken by diseased cells. The genetic material in cells can mutate, causing the diseased cells to spread and become a mass. Cancer can also cause skin problems such as itching, excessive hair growth, reddening of the skin, and jaundice. Skin cancer causes bloody sores on the skin.

This disease can also cause bowel and bladder problems, and unusual bleeding. According to the National Cancer Institute advanced cancer patients can also experience problems such as focusing, thinking, memory loss, and muscle control. While these two diseases have some similarities, they have even more differences. They attack the body in different ways, and have different treatments, however, taken care of properly, they can be controlled to a point. Cancer and diabetes can be fatal, but they do not have to be.

No comments:

Post a Comment