Understanding diabetes mellitus and its management: an overview

Meetoo, D; Allen, G

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a lifelong metabolic disorder characterized by a
chronically elevated blood glucose level resulting from an absolute or
relative shortage of insulin. This condition is fast becoming a global
health concern threatening to reach pandemic proportions. Today
there are around 250 million people worldwide who are living with this
condition and this fi gure is predicted to rise to 366 million in the next
twenty years. This increase will be particularly evident in developing
countries which experience the double burden of diabetes and
infectious diseases. A more concerted, strategic and multi-sectorial
policy approach, underpinned by solid research is essential to
improve human behaviour and lifestyle to reverse the negative trends
in the global incidence of diabetes. There is also a need for nurses
and prescribers to be proactive in ensuring that people with diabetes
become experts at managing their condition. In so doing, healthcare
systems and resources could be used more effectively to reduce
human, social and economic impact of this devastating condition.

Citation

Meetoo, D., & Allen, G. (2010). Understanding diabetes mellitus and its management: an overview. Nurse Prescribing, 8(7), 320-326

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: May 12, 2011
• Journal: Nurse Prescribing 2010 8(7) 320-326
• Print ISSN: 1479-9189
• Publisher: MA Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 320-326
• Publisher URL: http://www.internurse.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/abstract.html?uid=48936