The Inherent Connections

 

Brayden Koch

The Inherent Connections

As one takes a second to look at the world around them, connections between various factors of life will soon be apparent. From insects receiving food from plants while simultaneously spreading their pollen to nature’s carbon cycle continuously recycling an invaluable element, life is full of connections. With an emphasis on natural connection, Ayurveda, the knowledge of life, is an ancient form of medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years. The principle of Ayurveda stresses the connection between the mind and body in humans and accentuates the importance of this connection in maintaining homeostasis. In fact, Ayurveda highlights that the body cannot be well if the mind has problems and vice versa. Rather, true balance within the body is needed to maintain a healthy state. Eating healthy foods, maintaining positive mental health, and exercising are some methods used in eastern medicine to maintain a balance in one’s body. 

According to www.hopkinsmedicine.org regarding Ayurveda, imbalance within the body is the cause of disease. In a healthy person, different aspects of the body are connected and balanced. As any part of the body becomes imbalanced, disease or illness can follow. A healthy physiological state can only be returned when the body falls back into alignment. One of the most common imbalances in the body that is seen in the United States is diabetes. As I look back on my life, it is not hard to think of people I have interacted with who have diabetes. From some of my family members to friends at school, many people I care for have been inflicted with this terrible disease. According to www.CDC.gov, 37.3 million people in the United States have diabetes. That is 11.3% of the population. I never realized how many people suffer from this horrible disease. 

An important distinction when discussing diabetes is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.  Both versions of the disease involve the body’s imbalance and inability to take up glucose from the blood and into the cells. In a healthy body, insulin helps glucose absorb into the cells. Without insulin, glucose cannot be absorbed into the cells resulting in high blood sugar. In type 1 diabetes the body either does not produce insulin or there is a natural resistance to insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in young children and is not curable. 

Similar to type 1, type 2 diabetes also involves resistance to insulin which elevates blood glucose levels. Contrastingly, type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in older adults and results from the body producing less insulin over time or the cells becoming resistant to insulin’s effects. The body’s cells can become less resistant to insulin over time when an individual constantly has high blood sugar levels and/or lives a sedentary lifestyle. Type 2 diabetes commonly affects unhealthy adults and is generally seen as preventable in most cases.  

Even though diabetes is a common disease, left untreated, it can become deadly. If a diabetic does not take regular insulin and lives a healthy and active lifestyle, kidney, eye, and muscular damage will eventually result. If the disease is allowed to further progress, loss of limbs and eventually death will take place. According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2019, almost 90 thousand people in the United States passed away from diabetes.

 While eating healthy, and getting enough exercise is vital for the treatment of diabetes, most diabetics need to take supplemental insulin for their treatment. Unfortunately, even though insulin has been around for over 100 years, the cost of this life-saving compound has drastically risen in price. It now costs hundreds of dollars a month for a supply of insulin which many people cannot afford. According to www.hopkinsmedicine.org insulin is rapidly becoming more expensive due to a process called evergreening. During this process, pharmaceutical companies continually perform small adjustments to the medications which allow them to consistently renew their patents. Without generic insulin, pharmaceutical companies can unjustly charge as much as they want for their life-saving medications. 

An additional, important connection in society is found between illness and the United States economy. In the article Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2012, I was surprised to learn just how devastating diabetes is for this country. As the article mentions, in 2012, diagnosed diabetes resulted in 245 billion dollars in healthcare costs and associated productivity losses. This number is staggering, and I believe serves as another example of why the United States should work hard to prevent, treat, and cure diabetes. I personally thought this article was interesting by showing its readers another side of the disease. When I think of diabetes, I tend to think about the disease itself and not the toll it is taking on society. By further understanding the economics of the disease, I believe we will be better able to assess and become motivated as a country to solve this issue. 

Another interesting link between the overall health of our bodies and its connection to other factors is found in the human microbiome. According to the article, 20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Human Gut Microbiome, the human microbiome is defined as all of the viruses, bacteria, fungi, archaea, and eukaryotes that inhabit our bodies. Amazingly, there is over ten times the number of microbial cells in the human cells than human cells in the entire body. 

While having trillions of microbes inside our bodies seems counterproductive, our human microbiomes are essential for the normal function of our bodies. In fact, recent research has demonstrated that our microbiomes impact almost every one of our day-to-day functions. Specifically, our gut microbiome has been shown to positively affect sleep patterns, immune capacity, neurological development, cardiac physiology, and much more. Without these beneficial bacteria, we as humans may have more issues plaguing our bodies. 

Considering the wide pathologies the microbiome is involved in, it is of no surprise that new research has found that gut microbiome health is associated with diabetes. In 2020 the article, Gut microbiota, and diabetes: From Correlation to causality and Mechanism, was published. Researchers who wrote this article found an undeniable link between the microbiome and diabetes. Specifically, the researchers believe that the microbiome will one day be used as a biomarker for the disease as well as a target for new biotherapies. 

While the practice of Ayurveda has continued for thousands of years, my experiences within the healthcare system of the United States have shown that our healthcare system lacks the motivation to connect mind and body. Rather, I have noticed that physicians generally treat symptoms of the body directly without considering how mental health impacts the disease. I believe this approach commonly focuses on the treatment of the disease and not the prevention of it. In the United States, it is common to be seen by a doctor after severe symptoms of an illness have started. While this approach can help alleviate sickness, it masks the importance of preventing the disease in the first place.

While I believe that “eastern medicine” has some benefits, I do not think that relying solely on the practices of Ayurveda will benefit patients in the United States. Rather, I feel a combination of eastern and western medicine would produce the best methodologies and treatment procedures for patients. By mixing modern medicine with the knowledge of the connection between mind and body, I believe medicine and patient outcomes in the country will be improved. 

Throughout these few weeks, I am amazed at the amount of information we do and don't understand about our bodies. As a biology major, I am motivated to one day be part of the solution to making the world a healthier place. I believe that we as a society will only continue to advance as we continue to make discoveries about our bodies. From solving diabetes to learning more about the symbiotic bacteria living inside of us, I am excited to be a part of the future of scientists and physicians. 

Sources

American Diabetes Association. Economic costs of diabetes in the U.S. in 2012. Diabetes Care. 2013 Apr;36(4):1033-46. doi: 10.2337/dc12-2625. Epub 2013 Mar 6. PMID: 23468086; PMCID: PMC3609540.

“Ayurveda.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2 Dec. 2019, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/ayurveda. 

Dewar, Heather. “Why People with Diabetes Can't Buy Generic Insulin - 03/18/2015.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, Based in Baltimore, Maryland, 18 Mar. 2015, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/why_people_with_diabetes_cant_buy_generic_insulin. 

Ferranti EP, Dunbar SB, Dunlop AL, Corwin EJ. 20 things you didn't know about the human gut microbiome. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2014 Nov-Dec;29(6):479-81. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000166. PMID: 25290618; PMCID: PMC4191858.

Li WZ, Stirling K, Yang JJ, Zhang L. Gut microbiota and diabetes: From correlation to causality and mechanism. World J Diabetes. 2020 Jul 15;11(7):293-308. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v11.i7.293. PMID: 32843932; PMCID: PMC7415231.

“National Diabetes Statistics Report.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Jan. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html. 

“Statistics about Diabetes.” Statistics About Diabetes | ADA, 28 July 2022, https://diabetes.org/about-us/statistics/about-diabetes.