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LabOratory
MANAGING TYPE II DIABETES: THE
ROLE OF THE LABORATORY
By Irwin Z. Rothenberg, MBA, MS, CLS(ASCP), Technical Writer & Quality Advisor for COLA Resources, Inc.
Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic. Its prevalence continues to
rise globally at an average rate of 8.7 percent, and it currently
affects 382 million of the world’s population. Significant
increases in populations diagnosed with diabetes have been
reported by many nations as their lifestyle and dietary norms
evolve with globalization.
The National Diabetes Statistical Report (2014) reported that
in the United States alone, diabetes affects 29.1 million people,
8.1 million of whom are as-of-yet undiagnosed and untreated.
While people with diabetes make up 9.3 percent of the entire
U.S. population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) estimates that 86 million more people have some level of
pre-diabetes, meaning they have blood glucose or hemoglobin
A1c levels that are elevated but not yet to the point of diagnosed
diabetes. Not everyone with pre-diabetes will develop diabetes;
however, an estimated 15 to 30 percent will develop non-insulin
dependent or type 2 diabetes within 5 years.
Type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult-onset
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diabetes, can affect individuals of all ages, but onset is most
often seen in middle-aged and older individuals. The risk for
developing disease increases among individuals who are
overweight and inactive. Type 2 diabetes usually begins with
insulin resistance, when the body needs more insulin to help
glucose enter cells. Initially, the beta cells of the pancreas will
produce more insulin to manage the added demand. But
eventually the pancreas is no longer able to produce sufficient
insulin when blood sugar levels increase, such as after meals. At
this point, type 2 diabetes has ensued.
Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes use of diabetes
medications, dietary changes, and increased physical activity, along
with the monitoring and control of blood pressure and lipid levels.
An alarming trend across the U.S. is the increasing incidence of
type 2 diabetes among individuals < 20 years of age.
The Role of the Laboratory
In today’s preventive care environment, healthcare providers
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