Rylan Curated Paper 1

Rylan Anderson

BIOL 4500

Dr. Karpel

9/23/18

Curated Paper 1: Diabetes and Ayurvida

            According to the Ayurvida Theory, the science or knowledge of life can be connected through the body, mind and spirit.  In the past few weeks, we have learned about this theory as well as the effect that diabetes has metabolically and financially.  For this curated paper, I hope to expound on the effects that diabetes has by categorizing them using the Ayurvida Theory.  With very little knowledge of diabetes, a person should know that the body is affected but in what ways?  What we may not recognize or just overlook is how the mind and spirit can be affected due to diabetes.

            The body is probably the main category that diabetes is associated with.  Diabetes is an illness that affects the metabolic pathways due to inability to properly make or bind to insulin.  When looking at the mechanism of diabetes, we must look at the two main types; type 1 and type 2 diabetes.  Type 1 is more genetic out of the two rather than environmental.  It is caused by the immune system attacking β cells which make insulin and in turn regulates the glucose levels in the blood.  Without proper glucose regulation, the body may undergo many problems.  For example, diabetes heightens risks of eye disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, foot problems, skin problems, teeth and gum problems, and many more. (Department of Health…) To say that diabetes influences the body is an understatement. 

            This section is looking at what happens to the mind with people diagnosed with diabetes.  Although diabetes is not considered a mental illness, nor should it be, it’s impossible to ignore the side effects of diabetes when looking at the mind.  First, we know that obesity and bad diet is linked to type 2 diabetes.  What is often unknown to be linked is exercise and diet on mental illness.  Due to these connections, we can conclude that mental illness is more prevalent in populations with diabetes than those without diabetes.  One of these most common of these mental illnesses is depression.  It has also been proven after many studies that exercise not only prevents depression, but in many circumstances is more effective than medication.  (25 Studies…)  Therefore, we can conclude that if people are struggling with diabetes, specifically type 2 diabetes, their chances of developing and having mental illnesses are increased due to preexisting obesity.

            Finally, we will look at what diabetes has on the spirit.  This may vary a lot from person to person, especially with so many different definitions of what the spirit actually is.  For me, the spirit has a lot to do with how or what you feel.  Some may argue that pieces of this category may fit into the body or mind but for the sake of this paper, I will include them in spirit.  First off, anybody with a chronic illness will be affected spiritually.  In this case, I almost feel that those with type 1 diabetes may be affected more spiritually than those with type 2 diabetes (I make this assumption with having no personal understanding of the illness).  Those with type 1 diabetes are less likely to be obese and it may be assumed, have their life together a little more.  In this case, I would assume that the news of diabetes would be even more heartbreaking because they aren’t necessarily living at a higher risk for diabetes than anybody else.  Either way, the toll would be great. 

            Another angle to look at for diabetes is the financial toll that this has on somebody.  I also put this under the spiritual category because of the burden it has.  They are most likely less personable and less like themselves.  The stress would be overwhelming.  According to the article given us to read by you, the average American diabetic will spend almost $17,000 a year due to diabetes.  (Economic Costs…) 

            When looking at how diabetes impacts the body, mind and spirit, it is easy to see they connection that the Ayurvida Theory states.  Diabetes primarily affects the body; however the mind and spirit will be changed because of the unbalance of the body.  Diabetes shows this and changes live accordingly.    

Citations

“25 Studies Confirm: Exercise Prevents Depression.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 29 Oct. 2013, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201310/25-studies-confirm-exercise-prevents-depression.

Department of Health & Human Services. “Diabetes - Long-Term Effects.” Better Health Channel, Department of Health & Human Services, 31 Jan. 2015, www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/diabetes-long-term-effects.

Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2017. American Diabetes Association, May 2018, doi.org/10.2337/dci18-0007.