Academic English: Writing 1 () Diabetes Mellitus II In the past 20 years the number of people with Diabetes Mellitus has significantly increased. In 2007, over 740.000 people in the Netherlands were suffering from Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder in which the level of glucose in the blood is too high. For patients with Diabetes Mellitus, the body is unable to process glucose properly. Insulin is needed for the transport of glucose from the blood into the body tissues, but little or no insulin is produced by patients with Diabetes. It is also possible that the body has become insensitive to insulin. With little or no insulin, the body has trouble obtaining the glucose from the blood and therefore the glucose level in the blood will rise. This causes multiple health problems, such as heart disease, blindness and damage to kidneys and the nervous system (Poortvliet, Schrijvers & Baan, 2007). Diabetes is divided into two types, type I and type II. Type I Diabetes Mellitus is caused by the destruction of insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. This creates a shortage of the hormone insulin. This type of Diabetes occurs in a short type and usually at an earlier age. Diabetes Mellitus type II on the other hand arises gradual and usually later in life. In this case, there are disturbances in the secretion of insulin or there may be insulin resistance. Because of this, the glucose level in the blood can be too high at a given moment. Diabetes type II, 90.0 percentage of all Diabetes patients in 2007, almost only occurred among adults until the nineties. However, this is nowadays becoming more common among adolescents. This increase in the number of people with Diabetes type II is mainly caused by the increase in overweight people, an aging population and improved early detection. With the consequences such as described above and the knowledge that the longer a patient has diabetes, the more the organs, tissues and nerves are affected; Diabetes Mellitus is a serious health issue. Besides personal health problems, Diabetes type II is also responsible for several problems at the societal level. The main problems will be discussed here. First, the number of patients with Diabetes will continue to increase in the coming years. Secondly, there will be an increase in the incidence of diabetes at a younger age, causing longer average disease duration and thus an increased risk of complications. Due to these consequences the costs related to Diabetes Mellitus will increase enormously. Costs estimates of the RIVM showed growing healthcare costs and arrived at an amount of over 950 million in 2025. (Poortvliet et al, 2007). In order to ensure that the effects of Diabetes will not get worse, measures are needed to be taken. Prevention and healthcare activities may decrease the risk of Diabetes and its complications. This can be done by promoting a healthy lifestyle among people with an increased risk of Diabetes, through early detection and treatment to encourage people with an increased risk or undiagnosed Diabetes, and improved care for people with Diabetes. Since the effects of early detection of Diabetes patients is unknown yet and there are found positive effects of intensive lifestyle intervention on Diabetes incidence, it is advisable to focus on a healthier lifestyle. Although it is not known if healthier lifestyle provides for less complications of Diabetes patients, previous studies found a decrease of 6.0 percentage after 6 years for developing Diabetes. (Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid, 2012). A healthier lifestyle should focus on more physical activity and a healthier diet style. In the end, the risk of developing Diabetes can be reduced. At least half an hour moderately-intensive exercise, such as cycling or walking is recommended. That such exercises are so good, is because of glucose from the blood can easily be extracted in this way, through which the glucose level will decrease. In addition to these direct effects, physical activity plays an important role in the overall health of the patient as well. A healthier diet helps keeping an ideal weight and shall also provide for a fit feeling, as well for reducing the risk of many diseases and illness. Particular attention should be anticipated with the intake of sugars. (Diabetes Fonds) Interventions; more physical activity and healthier diet, will not only benefit the development of Diabetes, other health issues will be prevented as well. The effects of the interventions above will also have a positive impact on health issues, such as obesity, which form a problem of everyday life. Recent studies already showed that a healthier lifestyle will impact on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, decrease in weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar en cholesterol. Besides positive health effects of a healthier lifestyle there will be found other positive effects, namely the prevention of Diabetes (and thereby also the prevention of the Diabetes complications) will be cost-effective. The estimated costs can be saved are 4.000 to 5.500 euros per QALY, Quality Adjusted Life-Year. (CPB, Economische beleidsanalyse, 2007). Even so the financial costs will be spared. The total cost of Diabetes to society has been estimated at € 10 to € 11 billion in medical care and lost productivity. Without further intervention of prevention the costs can up to € 16 - 19 billion in 2020. (Booz: Maatschappelijke kosten diabetes 19 mld in 2020, 11-2011) Diabetes Mellitus is an increasingly common health problem that particularly since the recent years has greatly increased. This is due to aging, improved detection of Diabetes Mellitus patients and increase in the number of overweight people. In the future, the number of Diabetes patients will increase even stronger. Consequences for this include higher healthcare costs. In order to ensure that the charges and the number of patients with Diabetes Mellitus will be increased as little as possible, prevention is necessary. Mainly the prevention of Diabetes, in contrast to prevention of Diabetes complications, should be addressed. Because recent research already has shown that this is the most effective. Prevention of Diabetes will mainly be aimed at a healthier lifestyle of the population. A healthier lifestyle can be achieved through increased physical activity and healthier nutrition. References - Poortvliet M.C., Schrijvers C.T.M. & Baan, C.A. (2007). Diabetes in Nederland. Omvang, risicofactoren en gevolgen, nu en in de toekomst. Bilthoven: RIVM, 2007. - Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid. Diabetes Mellitus 'Preventie en zorg'. Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu. 27-09-2012 - Diabetes Fonds. Diabetes voorkomen. Available through: http://www.diabetesfonds.nl/overzicht/hoe-voorkom-je-diabetes-type-2. Accessed on: 18-10-2012 - CPB, Centraal PlanBureau. Institute for Medical Technology Assessment. Marc Pomp, Werner Brouwer and Frans Rutten. No 152. 10-2012. - Consultancy. Booz: Maatschappelijke kosten diabetes 19 mld in 2020. 21-11-2012.