Diabetes

Here's some thoughts/an essay on diabetes I wrote.

Obesity and diabetes have increased significantly in proportion in today’s society. These two diseases are not only very relevant to the average person, but also to me personally, since my grandma has recently been diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Obesity is the closest link to this type of diabetes, and according to the International Diabetes Foundation, there are an astounding 194 million people today living with the disease. At some point, each of us will inevitably come to know someone that is obese or has diabetes. Why, exactly, has diabetes become such an epidemic? How might my grandma have gotten her disease? Most importantly, what can we do to solve this ever-growing dilemma?

The answer to the first question is simple: we are simply not taking enough responsibility for our health. In today’s day and age of fast food and popular restaurant chains, our portion sizes are huge and filled with foods high in fat and cholesterol, thereby promoting obesity. Rather than going outside and playing sports, many kids in today’s modern, technological age opt to play computer games, watch TV, or chat online for recreation. At our own Parkside Café at USC, there is always a huge selection of desserts, and the large buffet-style entrees definitely foster large portion sizes. Is it any wonder, then, that the “freshman fifteen” exists? Adults also often don’t eat healthily or exercise, because their jobs demand a lot of their time. Exercising simply isn’t convenient. Fast food is the easy solution to grabbing a quick bite to eat, and after a long day of work, many people will opt to relax or simply go to sleep rather than working out.

Considering these points, it’s easy to see why my grandma was diagnosed with diabetes. She has always been an unhealthy eater, with foods such as doughnuts and Portuguese sausage being among her favorite things to eat. By consistently eating foods high in fat and sugar, she became overweight and put herself at high risk for diabetes. My grandma was also fairly inactive and didn’t exercise often, which additionally played a role in her getting the disease.