Diabetes or diabetes mellitus (DM) is a lifestyle condition that occurs when the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels. There are two kinds of diabetes mellitus type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a prevalent condition among adolescents and children, and type 2 diabetes mellitus is more prevalent across all ages (Bervoets et al., 2017). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2020), the number of individuals with DM increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. The worldwide estimates of new cases of diabetes for people under the age of 20 stand at 98,200. Nearly 210,000 US citizens below the age of 20 are living with DM. This makes up 0.025 percent of the total population (World Health Organization, 2020). The number of people living with type 1 diabetes mellitus has been increasing significantly in recent years. The condition is caused by the body’s inability to secrete enough insulin to regulate sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a lifelong disease with no cure. Children and adolescents with the condition may have to live with it all their lives. It is essential to understand the impact of the condition on patients, families, parents, friends, and teachers. Diabetes mellitus negatively impacts children and adolescents’ health, social life, and physiological well-being. Consequently, it necessary to have interventions that can reduce these adverse effects.
Psychological Impacts of Diabetes
Impact on Children
The psychological implication of T1DM also affects the quality of life for children (patients), caregivers and parents. Children living with T1DM often feel anxiety, depression, worry, and stress. Once a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, their routine changes may present several psychological complications that affect his/her interaction with others. The child might feel anxious and worried because he/she does not know how to manage the condition. If these feelings are not addressed, then the child might develop stress and fall into depression. I feel a comprehensive description of the psychological impact of diabetes on children will help care providers and health providers understand how to offer support to children.
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Impacts on Caregivers
Diabetes Mellitus has psychological effects on parents. Children with T1DM require constant monitoring, which can adversely affect the ‘normal’ parenting experience (Streisand & Monaghan, 2014). Most caregivers experience psychological stressors because of their daily experiences and the subsequent worry about their children’s health. Parents are often overwhelmed because they have to learn new information and skills suitable to their children’s care. Mothers also describe a feeling of being isolated in care (Jönsson et al., 2014). Mothers demonstrated a lower health-related quality of life and worried more about the child’s health than fathers (Jönsson et al., 2014). Diabetes mellitus affects families. This makes it hard to keep families together, and siblings to patients can develop behavioral and emotional problems. Some studies suggest that socio-demographic markers such as low-income and single-parent households can identify the parents at risk of higher psychosocial anxieties at diagnosis (Streisand & Monaghan, 2014). There is a need to increase support for parents with children living with T1DM to enable early adjustment. I believe that support for parents and other caregivers is important since parental distress at diagnosis forecasts maternal distress in the future.
Social Implications of Diabetes
Impacts on Children
Various social concerns adversely affect children struggling with diabetes mellitus. Children with T1DM are often worried about being away from their parents because of concerns about their well-being (Streisand & Monaghan, 2014). It might affect the interaction between people. However, some patients may become interested in spending more time with friends, affecting interaction with the family. Several studies suggest that there exists a strong correlation between DM and social interaction. Children living with diabetes often experience tension and stress in families that may strain peer relationships and result in poor social intermixing (Kakkar & Puri, 2016). Children may be unable to attend school regularly, and this puts a strain on peer relationships. DM management for children and adolescents often feels like juggling a stable blood glucose level and a stable social life. Adolescents living with the condition usually engage in alcohol abuse and eat fast foods while interacting with peers in social settings. However, this may be detrimental to their overall health since unregulated alcohol and food intake can result in social conflicts and peer issues. Diabetes mellitus has a significant impact on the lives of children and adolescents. In my opinion, caregivers and healthcare providers must encourage children and adolescents to engage in social behavior to better manage their condition.
Impacts on Caregivers
Diabetes also affects the quality of social life for parents of children living with the condition. Parents are required to teach family members and friends who interact with their children about their role in supporting DM management. The disease alters the interaction between the parents, friends, and family members since the parents will have to teach others how to recognize signs of low or high blood glucose levels and treatment (Streisand & Monaghan, 2014). Parents are also affected because they are required to alter their schedule to be available for pick-up times and phone calls as children begin kindergarten, preschool, and daycare (Streisand & Monaghan, 2014). A schedule change adversely impacts the parent’s social activities and employment. Parents are also required to form more robust associations with care providers as they collaborate on treating children living with the condition. I believe that parents require support mechanisms to help them cope with the social consequences associated with DM. Adequate help will help them offer better care to their children.
Impacts on Teachers, Friends and Family
The social implications of DM also adversely affect the social life of teachers, friends, and family. Teachers often faced novel challenges when dealing with children living with diabetes. For instance, teachers must be ready to manage hypoglycemia since children engage in excessive physical exercise (Kakkar & Puri, 2016). Teachers must also monitor the diet of children with DM. The teacher must ensure that the food the child eats is different from those being eaten by friends. Families report work restrictions because they take time to take care of diagnosed children (Jönsson et al., 2014). Stress associated with DM makes family members feel isolated, which may impact interaction with others. Friends are also affected because of reduced interaction because diagnosed children do not go to school every day. Diabetes mellitus significantly affects social interaction with teachers, friends, and family. I believe that teachers, friends, and family should offer supportive roles to help students living with diabetes enjoy a better social life.
Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on Cognitive Function
Diabetes mellitus has severe physiological implications that affect the quality of life for patients. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is often overlooked because of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among adults. However, T1DM occurs at an early stage of development and result in a lifelong insulin deficiency (Kakkar & Puri, 2016). The condition typically results in high morbidity and premature mortality. The prevalence of the condition results in an array of physiological implications for patients. Patients must adhere to a strict regimen to help children manage the condition. The treatment of T1DM often results in various physiological and social consequences for children (parents) and their caregivers. Several studies demonstrate a strong correlation between diabetes and increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairment (Saedi et al., 2016). DM is a risk factor for small vessel disease and atherosclerosis, which increase the risk of vascular dementia. Saedi et al. (2016) believe that insulin signalling dysregulation is a significant risk factor in Alzheimer’s disease. DM presents numerous physiological consequences that affect the life of patients and caregivers.
Diabetes Mellitus represent a significant risk factor for decreased cognitive functions, learning and memory deficits. According to Snircova et al. (2015), patients with DM have been found to have distinct cognitive deficits in psychomotor speed, memory skills, executive functions, attention, and visuospatial capabilities. Several longitudinal studies have identified a significantly greater risk of developing cognitive decline or dementia in diabetic patients. The medical data support the results from animal rodents exhibited memory and learning impairment in different cognitive-behavioural tests. Some studies hypothesized that people living with advanced brain aging since CNS alterations observed in diabetes result in age-related alterations present in normal aging (Snircova et al., 2015). Saedi et al. (2016) suggest a strong correlation between Alzheimer’s and type 2 diabetes. There are the common connection among diabetes, CNS pathologies, and Alzheimer’s that involve neural cell death and cognitive impairments. According to Schiaffini et al. (2019), high rates of evidence of PTSD and trauma exposure among child populations propose that mental health staff globally need to in a position to recognize those posttraumatic reactions that require intervention and provide effective and timeous treatment. Therefore, DM is a significant risk factor in decreasing cognitive functioning, learning, and memory deficits. Understanding the relationship between DM and cognitive functioning, learning, and the mental deficit is important to understand how it impacts patients' cognitive development.
Various studies suggest a correlation between high rates of comorbidity of depression and diabetes mellitus. The prevalence rate of depression is three times greater in individuals with T1DM (12%, range 5.8 to 43.3% compared to 3.2%, range 2.7 to 11.4%) and almost twice as high among individuals with T2DM (19.1%, range 6.5 to 33% compared to 10.7%, range 3.8 to 19.4%) compared to those without (Roy & Lloyd, 2012). Research also suggests that elevated levels of distress are prevalent during the initial diagnosis of type 1 diagnosis, including the prevalence of anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and depressive symptoms (Streisand & Monaghan, 2014). Children diagnosed with diabetes develop depressive symptoms that affect educational attainment, school attendance, and graduation. Sleeping problems are also prevalent with patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes. According to Streisand & Monaghan (2014), depressive symptoms result in reduced blood glucose monitoring, ultimately resulting in lower health-related quality of life. Research has demonstrated a strong correlation between the high rates of comorbidity of depression and diabetes. I believe that depression has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. There is a need for novel interventions that target depression among children with diabetes.
Findings from various publications suggest a higher level of depression, particularly among people suffering from lifestyle diseases like diabetes. Diabetes also impacts brain functions by facilitating structural changes predominately in the brain’s grey matter of cortex (Snircova et al. 2015). The alterations in the brain’s functioning usually result in behavioral changes like ADHD among adolescents and children. There have also been several studies that investigated the impact of diabetes on a patient’s temper and mood. Findings suggested that DM impacts depression and the hippocampus neurogenesis, and subsequent cognitive. The chronic management of diabetes may be related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). DM is challenging for adolescents, children, and their families because it affects the entire family’s lifestyle. Patients living with the condition may suffer from physiological and psychological symptoms associated with the severe and traumatic event (Schiaffini et al., 2019). Studies conducted to determine the level of PTSD among caregivers of people with DM revealed that 65.5 percent of fathers and 66.7% of mothers of patients with PTSD experienced the clinical level of trauma (Schiaffini et al., 2019). Depression and other mental illnesses are prevalent among parents and children living with diabetes.
Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on Blood Vessels
There is a strong correlation between diabetic Mellitus and diabetic neuropathy. Over time, uncontrolled high blood sugar results in nerve damage and impacts the body’s ability to send signals. Hyperglycemia weakens small blood vessels’ walls such as capillaries that supply critical nerves with needed nutrients and oxygen. Conditions such as type 2 diabetes result in elevated blood glucose levels (Saedi et al., 2016). It results from increased glucose secretion by the liver and a decrease in insulin secretion by the pancreas. The condition can also result in “insulin resistance,” where insulin responsiveness is reduced because of anomalous expression of insulin receptors. Over time, beta cells become overwhelmed and cannot cope with maintaining normal blood sugar levels and die, which decreases the production of insulin. When people develop type 2 diabetes, nearly 50 percent of the beta-cell mass is lost (Gillett et al., 2012). Diabetes and high blood sugar levels are risk factors in developing neuropathy. The damage of blood vessels in capillaries resulting from DM increases oxidative damage and oxidative stress and mitochondria dysfunction (Saedi et al., 2016). It may result in nerve damage, making persons living with diabetes mellitus lose the feeling in their feet. In extreme cases, limbs can get infected and result in amputation.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVDs). High blood glucose level associated with DM is associated with peripheral vascular disease, stroke, heart disease, and small vessel (microvascular) infection. High blood glucose level affects the functioning of nerves. Damage nerves that control blood flow impact the body’s capacity to regulate blood glucose levels. The effect results in a sharp pressure drop when people stand after sitting for a long time, resulting in fainting and dizziness. Hyperglycemia can result in renal failure, resulting in blindness (Gillett et al., 2012). High blood pressure impacts the capillaries in the retina that can result in the degradation of vision-perceiving tissues, resulting in the loss of vision over an extended period. Adolescents and children are at greater susceptibility to these impacts because the risk is continuously existent in their lives. Additionally, the effect on blood vessels affects kidneys and increases the risk of kidney diseases. Kidney damage can send harmful toxins into the bloodstream that can ultimately result in nerve damage. Therefore there exist a strong correlation between diabetes mellitus and damaged blood vessels. The association may be attributed to the weakened walls of capillary vessels, which affects the transportation of oxygen and nutrients. Weakened blood vessels affect the functioning of critical body organs. I believe that parents and care givers should develop interventions that help patients regulate sugar levels to avoid blood vessels damage.
Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on Blood Sugar Levels
Individuals with the disorder experience a rise in blood glucose levels as they cannot regulate their glucose intake. Diabetes mellitus begins with a dramatic onset of acute hyperglycemia in children and adolescents who require intensive insulin therapy (Schiaffini et al., 2019). Insulin therapy helps move glucose from the individual’s blood to their cells to be stored as energy. The disease’s onset marks the beginning of a lifetime of high blood glucose levels (Saedi et al., 2016). Diabetes mellitus causes numerous problems in children and adolescents.
As a systemic disease, the onset of diabetes mellitus results in the later development of complications in the gastrointestinal, nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems. The nervous system comprises a system of nerves responsible for sending electrical signals that help individuals take in and process the information on what is happening. The nervous system then facilitates the appropriate response to the stimulus one is exposed to (Gillet et al., 2012). Therefore, the nervous system is vital in the human body that may experience complications that need to be well understood to enhance the disease’s management for children and adolescents.
Diabetes will damage nerves in the human body due to a patient’s elevated blood sugar levels. The high blood glucose levels for long periods over many years result in nerve damage in the nervous system (Saedi et al., 2016). The blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the nervous system get affected by the constant blood glucose level. The blood vessels’ walls end up being weakened by the presence of high blood glucose levels (Gillet et al., 2012). The impact of the blood vessels in the nerves presents through the development of neuropathy. Neuropathy is seen when the nerves’ abilities to send electrical signals are impaired. This affects how individuals react to stimuli, thus impacting their lives negatively.
The type of nerve damage and effects individual experiences are dependent on the nerves that have been affected. The elevated levels of blood glucose will result in outcomes that may be initially noticeable. In other instances, the nervous system’s effects may sometimes not be apparent until significant nerve damage occurs in the child or adolescent (Gillet et al., 2012). The different neuropathy types result in various functional impairments in diabetic patients; thus, understanding the impairments ensures one fully understands the disorder’s effects on children and adolescents.
Diabetic patients may develop diabetic foot. The condition might require the patients to get their feet amputated if it is not remedied on time. They can develop diabetic retinopathy may develop into a loss of vision and blindness (Saedi et al., 2016). Damaged nerves also result in the altered flow of blood across the nervous system, impacting the patient’s body. Neuropathy also results in the loss of sensation, which is particularly dangerous as it may result in numerous accidents. In other cases, people develop increased sensitivity to touch (Gillet et al., 2012). Some patients also suffer muscle wasting, numbness or tingling on their hands, and neuropathic pain. Patients living with the condition must alter their lifestyle to maintain their blood glucose level and live more fulfilling lives.
Diabetes mellitus presents several negative impacts that impact adolescents, children, and caregivers’ well-being in psychological well-being, social life, and physiological well-being. Psychological consequences associated with diabetes affect patients’ quality of life (children and adolescents), caregivers, and families. The condition’s social implication results in strained relationships between patients, parents, families, teachers, and friends. Diabetes mellitus also has a significant impact on the cognitive function of the patients and caregivers. These effects are associated with decreased cognitive functions, learning and memory deficits. There are other studies that can demonstrate a strong correlation between comorbidity of depression and diabetes mellitus. The disease also impacts blood vessels because it weakens capillaries’ walls that supply needed nutrients and oxygen to nerves. The effect results in nerve damage that impacts the functioning of the eyes and kidney. Nerve damage reduces the sensitivity of limbs and can result in amputation. Diabetes mellitus also affects the body’s homeostasis because it affects the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose levels. There is a need to conduct comprehensive studies to understand how the condition affects the quality of life; understanding the nature of implication will offer better insights into the types of interventions employed to ensure care and management of the condition. Non-pharmacological interventions are best suited to the management of diabetes mellitus because they offer few side effects. Best interventions should include a combination of dietary and physical advice, with consistent follow-up and regular reinforcement, supported with quality care. Caregivers play an integral role in the management of diabetes mellitus. Parents are encouraged to motivate their children to adopt a healthy lifestyle to witness health improvements. The study has been revealing because it discusses the prevalence of the disease across the globe. The report also looks at implications on psychological well-being, social life, and physiological well-being. The study offers best intervention practices that can be employed to manage the condition and live better and healthier lifestyles.
References
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