Nerve Damage Due to Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus is the result of the human body not being able to produce enough insulin to enable the breakdown of excess glucose in the blood stream (Department of Health and Human Services). As a result, blood sugar levels rise above normal, and with this rise comes a host of health problems such as kidney failure, eye disease, and cardiovascular disease (Thackeray, Merrill, & Neiger, 2004). 

The decade 1990 to 2000 saw a 49% increase in newly diagnosed cases of Type 2 diabetes. An even more alarming projection is made for the period spanning the years 2000 through to 2050, when this figure is expected to approximately triple to 165% diagnosed cases (Thackeray et al., 2004).

Minority populations are most at risk for Type 2 diabetes. According to Thackeray et al. (2004), African-Americans are about twice as likely to develop the condition as compared to their Caucasian counterparts. In the same article, evidence given shows that among Native Hawaiians, American Indians and Alaska Natives the probability of developing the condition is at least two and half times more likely. As at the year 2000, the total population of people aged 45-74 was 80.3 million (Johnson, Tabaei, & Herman, 2005). This gives an idea of the potential number of people likely to be affected by diabetes.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists certain secondary diseases caused by diabetes that tend to worsen the health of the individual. According to the factsheet produced by the CDC, 30% of diabetics over the age of 40 have some form of nervous system complication (Centers for Disease Control, 2011). The one that is of major concern for this assignment is nerve disease related to diabetes in the age group 45 to 74 of the African-American population in Indianapolis.

If the issue is not addressed the health and well-being of the minority African-American population has the potential to worsen. Diabetes has already been identified as one of the leading causes of death in the country. Other conditions comorbid with diabetes include but are not limited to hypertension, blindness and eye problems, nervous system complications and amputations (CDC, 2011). Americans are living longer, but diabetes is one of the health areas that warrant attention if any headway is to be made in the quality of life of the older adult population (Laiteerapong et al., 2011).