Effects of Homosexuals in Schools Essay Example for Free

Effects of Homosexuals in Schools Essay In the 19th century, a German psychologist coined the term â€Å"homosexuality†. Basically, homosexuality is often a sexual attraction that is primarily towards the members of the same sex (Pickett, 2006). Oftentimes, homosexual equates to being gay and/or lesbian. There are varying points of view regarding homosexuals and homosexuality. Many religious groups believe that there no one born as a homosexual. However, there are plenty of scientists, particularly psychologists who believe that a person is born this way. Religiously speaking, there are no supporting texts in the Bible that there are homosexuals. Only two genders are made: man and woman. Oftentimes, the greater portion of the homosexual community believe that they were â€Å"born gay† (Worthen, 2004). This belief and perspective oftentimes give them comfort and a sort-of justification for their â€Å"state†. Also, this very same ideology relieves them of any responsibility to change. Nevertheless, there is no firm scientific proof until today that affirm that some people are born homosexual. Genetically speaking, they are just either male or female (Worthen, 2004). Since there are no born homosexuals, many psychologists believe that homosexuality is a learned behavior. There are many factors or reasons why a person becomes homosexual. Primarily, most of these factors involve family. These include a disturbed family life in the early years (of the individual), absence of/in love on the part of either parent or a failure to identify with the same-sex parent. Later, the consequences of these reasons manifest in the individual in varying forms—and one of them is through confusion of their identity that oftentimes lead to homosexuality. But one thing is for sure—that homosexuality has many roots (excluding family). Along with the other factors that cause homosexuality, we must not also take for granted the individual. The individual’s choices also play a key part in transforming and shaping his (homosexual) identity. Majority of causes of being homosexual is rooted with family reasons. In such cases this immensely affects the behavior of the individual particularly in school. Majority of homosexuals that go to school instantly faces the burden of â€Å"coming out†. This is one of the hardest challenges that an individual must face. Since most of homosexuals that go to school are having identity crisis and fear of rejection from their peers (if ever they decided to come out), they have a very high tendency to have unusual behavior from â€Å"straight people†. Most of the time, (with the assumption that the individuals are mostly teenagers since they still go to school) these people is in high risk of suicide, substance abuse, the feeling of isolation and more importantly, school problems. Consequently, because of this kind of behavior, they (and it) inevitably affect their relationship with other people. Because they always need the feel to isolated, the tendency is that, they can be the frequent butt of jokes (especially in schools where homosexuality is not yet a very open and accepted topic) that will in turn can lead into more dangerous behaviors. Moreover, when things go uncontrollable, there is also a huge tendency for the individual to resort to many absurd and unsafe displacement methods (i. . substance abuse, committing crimes, etc). Because of the rising number of individuals (particularly young homosexuals) that is involved in this kind of situations, a great deal of number of individuals and concerned groups were established to help them. Most of these help lines offer counseling but more than that, they also make sure that the individual can pursue his/her way to full acceptance and if worse comes to worse, to their recovery. Before the advent of DNA technology, psychologists and sociologists believe that the cause of homosexuality is influenced by the environment of the individual; but with DNA testing, they were able to pinpoint that somehow, genes has something to do with it. But more importantly, we cannot deny the fact that from the beginning, there were only male and female; but as time pass, some strong environmental factors can bend the reality of life that even Nature herself find it hard to turn back (or at least minimize the bad consequences) time.

Importance of Planning in Childcare Environment

Importance of Planning in Childcare Environment Vanessa Clare Every child is born unique; they have their own characteristics, personalities and interest. They developes at different rates, but do follow a similar development pattern, i.e. one child may begin to walk 9 months whereas another child may not begin to walk until they are 17-18 months. There may be many factors that also come into the equation when a child is developing, i.e. If a child is born premature or at term, if the child has any special educational needs or other disabilities which a child needs extra support for, weather there has been any long or short term illness, and the environment that the child is in, this includes the Childs social environment, also stress. A Childs growth and development is influenced by their learning and their influenced by the people and the environment around them. The EYFS document Development matters show the four themes that the Eyfs underpin all guidance, these are:- A unique child + positive relationships + enabling environments = learning and developments. When planning for a child it is best to get as much information on the child as possible, ask parents for information, as they are putting their most treasured procession in the safety of your care. Observe the childs free play to find out their likes, dislikes, strengths weaknesses, where you can support the child in their learning and environment. Anylise your finding using the four themes, principles and practice from the Development matters document. This helps to find out where a child is on their learning path, consider ways to strengthen their current learning development, showing guidance from positive relationships and enabling environments so that you can plan for the Childs learning and developments to fit their needs. As a practioner you will get to know each of your key children and will find other ways to work with the child alongside their planning. By following the planning, observations, assessment triangles you gain understanding of the Childs actual stage of develo pment, their interest and their particular needs , it will stop the you from planning activates and resources that may be too hard or easy for the child, or that the child does not find interesting. Activities that are too hard can negatively affect their confidence and self esteem, as they will not feel able to do it. Activities that are too easy will not hold their attention and they will lose interest quickly. By doing the observation, analysing and planning triangle it helps constantly review the Childs progress and share with the parents as required by the EYSF at two points, the prime areas between 24 and 36 months of age and at the end of the EYFS in the EYFS profiles. The EYFS breaks down the areas of learning into prime areas and specific areas, Prime areas are fundamental, work together, and move through to support development in all other areas Personal, social and emotional development Communication and language Physical development Specific areas include essential skills and knowledge for children to participate successfully in society Literacy Mathematics Understanding the world Expressive arts and design When planning activities you need to make sure that you are meeting all the children’s individual needs and requirements so the children are all treated equally. Putting into practice the equal opportunities which are essential. Equality, the practice of treating every on equally Diversity the practice of recognising and valuing individual characteristics and differences Inclusion an approach that makes sure that all children can participate to a full extent within their environment. A worldwide document that governs equal opportunities for all children is â€Å"The National Convention on the Right of the Child† this document outlines all basic human rights that all children are entitled to. All early years setting practitoners must follow this convention and empower the children in their care. The world made a promise to children nearly 25 years ago â€Å"that we would do every in or power to protect and promote their right to survive and thieve, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and reach their full potential.† The convention defines a child as a person below the age of 18, unless the laws of a particular countries has set the legal age for adulthood younger. Young children often don’t realise that they have rights so it is up to adults to make sure that they know that they do, one of the rights relevant is the right for all children to have their views and opinions listened to and their best interest at heart. The EYSF requires all setting providers to have implemented a policy and procedures to promote the equality of opportunity of children in their care, and show support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. This policy should also cover how the individual needs of all the children will be met. All staff should have read and have understanding of their settings equal opportunities polices. All children should be given the same concern and attention and not all treated the same as this can be discriminating against them. A setting and their staff should provide an inclusive environment as this will challenge discrimination which will help to build a positive environment where children and their families will feel respected and valued, making them want to return. The equality act 2010 replaced all existing equality legislations and is in place protect individuals from discrimination. If children are discriminated against it can cause them to become withdrawn and could affect their development by causing delays. There are many ways that children could discriminate against, a few of these are due to their gender, social class, physical appearance, race and culture, it will lower their self esteem and confidence and they will start to question their beliefs. You must treat everyone the same no matter what their gender culture etc. This does not just apply to the children but to their families too. Any one working with children has to challenge their own views and beliefs and not show any prejudices to any of the children or their families so they want to return to the setting. To make a setting welcoming to children and their families welcome signs should be in multiple languages, staff should have a smile and a positive greeting when children a nd their families enter the setting, this creates a happy environment, learning a few words in the children’s own language helps build strong relationships. Support children in their own choices, when it comes to cultural /religious celebration these should be in place whether a child of that religion / culture is in the setting or not, ask for people that are from that culture or religion to come in and help promote to a higher standard so that the children get a fuller picture of the culture / religion or festival. Help children to feel they can come and talk, encourage children to build on their unique character and feel comfortable in themselves, helping them feel positive about their background which in turn will help them gain emotional well-being. By promoting good diversity children will be more accepting of other who are different from themselves. Children trust the adults that look after them to keep them safe and love them as do their parents as they are giving their most precious prize possession to look after and keep safe and happy .part of caring for a unique child is promoting their well-being , making them feel safe and secure in their environment. Key workers are essential as a first point of contact for the unique child and their family. The key worker spends time on a one to one with the child getting to know the needs of the child supporting them as they learn to spend time without their parents, and learning all about their interest, the key worker also helps support the parent in talking to them about the routines and likes and dislikes and aiming to follow them. Setting need to be set out for the children’s age and developmental stage, making sure that the environment is appropriate and safe for the children. Staffs ratios are a legal requirement, in the age group 0-24 months the ratios are one member of staff to every three children, from 24-36 months the ratio is one staff member four children and from 36-60 the children are more independent and have a greater knowledge of their own safety so the ration is one staff member to eight children, at this age children should be given rules, boundaries and activities that get the children to listen. Road safety Stanger danger awareness to personal safety should also be introduced at this age. As children grow they can be given the chance to learn about keeping safe themselves, encourage the child in making decisions give the child the power to say no if don’t want to join in. Promoting independence is an important part of growing and learning and becoming a unique child. And environment should be set out in an appropriate manner for the child. I.e a child of 0-12 months will need the toys in reach so they can chose themselves as they become mobile the environment should be set out so resources are at the child’s height and they can get them easily. A choice of healthy snack should be offered, from 12-24 months the environment should be accessible to the child and they should be voicing opinions which should be listened too, from 24-36 months children should be choosing what they want to play with, communicating is getting better and children should be having their opinions asked and listened to they should be continuing to help set up and tidy away to promot e independence and help with children following rules and boundaries. From 36-60 months children should enjoying independent choices they should be involved in the setting playing and communicating, ask the children what they would like to play with involving them in setting out their environment, at the same time setting boundaries. Setting should following the children’s act 1989 which promotes empowerment for children, making sure that they are involved in decisions that can affect their well being. Making sure that the children’s feelings and opinions are listened to, making sure that individual needs for the children and families are met, that children have their race, culture, language and religion are valued and respected and making sure that the well-being is of paramount importance. By using all of these when working with children you come to learn that all children are unique and by meeting all of their individual needs you are making sure that they are in a happy safe environment where they can grow and learn at their own pace feeling confident at doing so with the all the love support and resources that they need to do so. By meeting the unique Childs individual needs will help the child in five of the â€Å"Every Child Matters† outcomes. In staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making positive contributions and achieving economic well-being.

Acid Mine Drainage :: science

Acid Mine Drainage For hundreds, even thousands of years, human beings have mined for metals and stones, and with the advent of greater technology as well as greater needs, the demands for these resources continue to grow. While these resources benefit our lives in many ways, the effects of mining can be detrimental, and one such effect is the topic of this essay, acid mine drainage (A.M.D.). The causes of A.M.D. will be discussed, along with some of the physical and biological problems associated with it. Some prevention and remediation treatments will also be considered. Acid mine drainage refers to water (leachate, drainage or seepage) that has come into contact with oxidised rocks or overburden that contains sulphide material (coal, zinc, copper, lead). (Keller, 2000; U.S.G.S.; U.S.E.P.A., 2002). A common sulphide is pyrite, or iron disulfide (FeS2), and throughout this essay it will be pyrite that will be the primary sulphide considered. Acid mine drainage is not a new phenomenon, early mining techniques utilized gravity to avoid water pooling, resulting in the water becoming polluted by acid, iron, sulphur and aluminium (U.S.E.P.A., 2002). It is most commonly associated with coal mining, especially with soft coal, coal that has high sulphur content. The pyrite that is present in coal seams will be accessible after surface mining when the overlying surfaces are removed or in deep mines that allow oxygen access to the previously inaccessible pyrite-containing coal (D.E.P. 1, 1997). After pyrite is exposed to air and water, sulphuric acid and iron h ydroxide are formed, creating an acidic runoff (D.E.P. 1, 1997; 2 2002). When the water comes into contact with the pyrite, the chemical reactions that take place causes the water to increase in pH which will dissolve heavy metals which stay in solution. However, when the pH levels reach a certain stage, the iron can then precipitate out, coating sediments with the characteristic yellow, red or orange colourings (D.E.P. 2, 2002; U.S.G.S.; U.S.E.P.A., 2002). The rate that A.M.D. advances is also influenced by the presence of certain bacteria (Doyle; U.S.G.S). A.M.D that has dissolved heavy metals such as copper, lead and mercury can contaminate ground and surface water. Especially at risk are mines that are located above the water table (Keller, 2000; D.E.P. 2, 2002). The sources of water that get polluted can be surface water that permeates into the mine, shallow ground water flowing through the mine or any water that comes into contact with the waste tailings produced by mines.

Why Do Fireflies Glow? Essay -- essays research papers

Why do Fireflies Glow? Fireflies have evolved the ability to send from their abdomen as a means of communication with each other. The most important reason for the flashing is for sexual communication. Flash signals have been classified into two systems. One is where a continuously glowing female attracts a non-glowing male. The second is when a female, flashes a species-specific response to a flying male, who is broadcasting a pulsating signal. There are other functions of flashing as well, such as using their luminescence for lighting up the ground during landing and walking. Fireflies also flash when captured or confined, which is thought to intimidate predators. Males can sometimes bend his light organ forward and put it in the face of the female he's mounted, flash it, blinding her since her eyes are sensitive and adapted to darkness. She will then be unable to see rival males clearly, hindering her from communicating with other potential mates. (Lloyd, 1984a). A particular genus of firefly, Photuris, has evolved quite an interesting behavior. It has learned to mimic the mating flashes of another genus, Photinus. They have "cracked" the species-specific signal codes of their prey, using their own sexual signals against them (Lloyd, 1990). When Photinus males attempt to mate with Photuris, she eats them. This phenomenon is called either aggressive mimicry or predatory responding (Copeland, 1991). T...

The Narcolepsy Sleeping Disorder

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleeping disorder with no sure cause. The main characteristic is excessive and over daytime sleepiness, even after a good nights rest. A person with narcolepsy will usually be very drowsy or fall asleep, particularly at unappropriate times and places. Daytime attacks may or may not occur withouth any warning (This is a personal account of someone with Narcolepsy that i found on the Science News website) My problems started in the fall of 1954 when football practice began just before school started. I would be so exhausted after practice that I could barely make it ome. Upon doing so I would lay down on the floor and go to sleep. I knew that something was seriously wrong with me and there wasn't anyway that I could play football. The previous year I was a starter on the varsity team. The next ten years were very difficult for me. Doctor after doctor made diagnoses that were wrong. People around you think that you are lazy, sleep all the time, you have no interest in anything and worst of all, you begin to think you are worthless and lazy. During this ten years, I have had sleep attacks while driving a car. When I would awaken, I would have traveled 20 r 30 miles and not remember a thing. I have gone to sleep on my feet while working and standing still. I would go to the bathroom just to be able to close my eyes for a short period of time. I would use cigarettes as a timer. You can light a cigarette and slide it between your fingers down toward your palm, different lengths to adjust the time. When the cigarette burns down toward your fingers How I found out what was wrong with me! There was an article in a magazine which came with the Sunday paper. When I read the article, I immediately knew that i had found the answer to my problem. The next morning I went to the local Doctor and asked him if he had read the article. He responded that he had, but the symptoms would fit just about everyone in town. I told him he might be right, but how many people did he know have their knees buckle or lose control of their neck when they laughed, got mad, or were surprised. I asked if he would write a prescription for Ritalin. When I took my first pill of Ritalin, it was the first time I had felt any source of energy for over 10 years. I am now 61 years old and I am from a time when the workplace was very different from today. Management id not take the time, nor were they required to try to understand disabilities. If a company found out that you were a narcoleptic, they would terminate you, because they were afraid you would hurt someone else in the work place. I worked as a professional mechanic for 20 years and then worked in the gas industry on the retail level for another 22 years. I have not had an accident of any kind as a result of my narcolepsy. It seems as though subconsciously, I knew when I was in danger and would always wake up. My advice to anyone that has had a proper diagnosis as to their narcolepsy is the following. Get to know thy self, be aware and study what effects your behavior when this or that happens. Symptoms typically appear during adolescence, although the disease itself may not be diagnosed for many years afterward. The primary symptom is an overwhelming feeling of fatigue, together with sleep attacks that may occur with or without warning. About 75% of patients also experience cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone lasting a few seconds to 30 minutes, but without loss of consciousness. Episodes of narcolepsy can be triggered by emotions such as laughter, fear, or anger. Other symptoms include sleep aralysis and hypnogogic hallucinations as the person wakes up or falls asleep. Some patients may also have trouble staying asleep at Recent research suggests that the cause of narcolepsy maybe involves a dead patch of cells in your brain, in dogs and mice they have found this patch of dead cells that they ahave verified causes narcolepsy to these animals. The exact cell pattern has not been identified in humans, and scientists say we may find the source in as close to 2 years with good research. Twin studies suggest that narcolepsy is not definately a genetic disease, since only 25% of the ime will both twins have the condition. The risk for a person whose immediate relative has narcolepsy is only about 1-2%. This baffles doctors because narcolepsy can show up out of nowhere, but also may run in the family, but not always. The treatment for narcolepsy usually involves taking medications to reduce sleepiness during the day and in those who have cataplexy, other medications to prevent cataplexy. The medications to prevent sleep during the day are a group of medicines called stimulants that includes Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, Provigil and others. Cataplexy is usually treated with antidepressant edications that repress REM (dreaming) sleep such as Tofranil, Norpramin, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. Narcolepsy can be diagnosed easily when all the symptoms are present. Two tests are usually done to verify the diagnosis. These tests are usually done by a sleep doctor. The polysomnogram records your brain waves when you sleep in the night, and once you go into REM (Rapid Eye Movement) if the brain waves look the same then this helps in diagnosis. With the multiple latency test people are to do an activity they regularly do any other day and every 2 hours the doctors tell them if they feel drowsy that they should try o sleep etc. I have also read though that doctors usually wont diagnose narcolepsy easily, in many stories like the one above, people say that doctors said that they had anything but narcolepsy. Narcolepsy usually can show up as many things, doctors usually at at first call it a lack of sleep, and other times they may say that you I learned a lot from this report. Before I did this report I thought that narcolepsy was just always being tired and sometimes taking a nap during the day, but I was wrong. I think narcolepsy would be a very aggrevating and embarrasing disease.

Journal of my close friend

My Close Friend Who is that? Is that your best friend? I am sure everyone had been asked by those questions in their life. So do l. So, what it is close friend? Close friend is someone who always cheers you up in no matter what happened either in happiness or sadness. Hangout, gossiping, playing, studying, shopping, laughing, crying, and so on, all you do is together with them, your best friends. In my life, I do have a close friend. She is my sunshine. She also is my rainbow after heavy rain had passed. I laughed with her. I cried with her.She never left me, so do l. We are a best friend. Forever, I will cherish our friendship. I still remember how I met her in our first meeting. On the first day of my high school, I went to school early. When I stepped in my class, I saw someone was sleeping in the corner of my class. I got a little shocked when looking at her. For sure because I do think she might be a ghost or someone who are homeless. But somehow, I told myself to be brave, so I came near to her then I realize, she also a student, same as me. I woke her up and she is awake.She looked at me innocently with her puffy eyes. Suddenly she cried hard in front of me. I was so anxious with that unexpected scene. Did I hurt her when I woke her up? When I asked her, she told me everything. Nothing less but it was about her heartbreaking. I Just listen to her and comfort her. Although it was a little awkward since that was the first time I met her, still, I feel comfortable with her. The feeling want to be her friend were strongly linger in myself. After that, we always keep in touch and end up as a best friend. Sharing all story together.When I was in trouble, she is ready for me and I had never leave by her side when she needs me. Where is she, there is always me by her side. That is why everyone called us a twin. She is a thin girl with a sweet smile. She is so cool most of time but when something had troubled her, I easily recognized it. All of her feeling is sho wn at her beautiful face without barriers. That is why I as her only best friend will always cheer her up. I love to see her smile and her sorrow are my first thing I must vanish away. I love her, my only best friend, Siti Najihah†¦

Diabetes

Motivational Speech Proposal STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005, there were 20. 6 million cases of diabetes among people aged 20 years to 44 years; according to the American Diabetes Association in 2011, there were 25. 6 million cases of diabetes among people aged 20 years to 44 years. GENERAL PURPOSE: To persuade SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To persuade my audience to engage in walking for 30 minutes a day to prevent diabetes. CENTRAL IDEA: My audience should walk for 30 minutes a day because doing so will help them from getting diabetes and other chronic health diseases. Attention Grabber: Isolation, Denial, depression, guilt, anger, embarrassment, and dependence, these are the emotions that are experienced among people with diabetes. Vivian, a 17 year old quiet spoken girl who has gone through these emotions. She began feeling really miserable, throwing up, really thirsty all of the time. One day, after falling into a diabetic coma, she was lying in a hospital bed and the doctors were explaining that her pancreas had stopped functioning and I was no longer producing insulin. This was serious. She was zoned out. She asked herself, â€Å"Diabetes? How could that be possible? And why her? † This could happen to any of us, and we may be the unlucky victim. As college students, we live in a world where everything is convenient, from cars, to fast food, causing us to be more sedentary and unhealthy. It is easy for us to slip into a sedentary lifestyle with no or irregular physical activity. With physical inactivity among threatening our well beings, and precipitating deadly diseases as diabetes, we need a change to better our lives. Problem: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005, there were 20. million cases of diabetes among people aged 20 years to 44 years; according to the American Diabetes Association in 2011, there were 25. 6 million cases of diabetes among people aged 20 years to 44 years. A. So what is Diabetes? a. According to American Diabetes Association, diabetes is a disorder of sugar metabolism: It is when high blood glucose level occurs. There are 3 types of diabetes. b. A. Type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, is when there is no production of insulin-a hormone that guides sugar into cells and help convert it into energy. No insulin means no control of blood sugar. Only 5 percent of all diabetes cases are type 1 and mostly occur in young adults. a. The US Department of Education: Digest of Education Statistics, states that Each fall, 2. 3 million freshmen enroll in institutes of higher education in the U. S. Of these, 7, 700 will have type 1 diabetes, based on an estimated prevalence rate of 1 of every 300. B. Type 2 is when you don’t produce enough insulin, or your insulin is not working properly. Cells have become resistant to the insulin is not very effective. . The ADA describes Type 2 as the most common form of diabetes. In adults, type 2 diabetes, a condition that can be prevented, accounts for 90–95% of all diagnosed case. C. Stress Diabetes: using medication’s especially water pills (diuretics). It can often disappear when the stress is relieved. D. A 2007-2009 national survey data from American Diabetes Association states that for people diagnosed with diabetes aged 20 ye ars or older, 12. 6% of blacks, 11. 8% of Hispanics, 8. 4% of Asian Americans, and 7. 1% of whites. E. Causes of Diabetes? 1. According to Tom and Gena Metcalf, the authors of Diabetes, there are hereditary and environmental factors involved, and lifestyle. a. For type 2 diabetes, there is stronger link to family history than type 1. If both parents have it, there is 50 % of chance of getting it. If one parent has it, the risk is almost 3 times the general population risk. b. Environmental factors are: Dr. James Warram, a lecturer in epidemiology at Harvard School of Public states that one trigger might be cold weather. 2. Also affecting is age, obesity, lack of exercise. F. The Symptoms of diabetes are many factors. 1. Type 1 and 2 diabetes people can have blurred vision, urinary tract infections, blindness, foot ulcers that leads to limb amputations. 2. Symptoms can develop suddenly (over days or weeks), or gradually (over several years). a. Jane 47 year-old is a triple amputee, have undergone operations to remove both her legs and one arm due to Type 1 diabetes. She faces the prospect of losing her remaining arm in the near future because of diabetes. Imagine not having your legs, what a depressing life that would be. Solution: A. First option, you can do nothing about it. 1. Severe consequences can occur with uncontrolled diabetes. . You can get foot ulcers, blindness, leg amputations, and even death. b. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, in 2006, about 65,700 lower-limb amputations were performed in people with diabetes.. B. Second option is taking insulin therapy or oral medications. 1. For Type 1 diabetes, injectable insulin is used. 2. According to Doctor Diane Ell iot in Oregon health Science University, There are different types of oral drugs used to manage Type 2 diabetics: 3. Some side effects with metformin are nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, diarrhea and loss of appetite. 4. The side effects and the cost of such medicine shows that medication might be at an expense physically and mentally to diabetics. a. It can cost a lot of money. The Website Cost Helper, what are people paying explains that for patients without health insurance, diabetes medication costs $200 to $500 or more a month for a multi-drug regimen. C. The third option, an important aspect in managing diabetes that doesn’t cost us a dime is exercise. 1. Hippocrates said â€Å"Walking is man's best medicine. † Walking is one of the easiest and least expensive ways without needing any equipment’s to stay physically fit. There are no side effects for walking. Just good results. 2. According to Linn Goldberg, doctor and author of the Healing power of exercise, walking helps the body becomes more sensitive to insulin’s action, so sugar is more easily removed from bloodstream and blood glucose levels can normalize. 3. Expert from the National institutes of Health all advise 30 minutes or more of moderate to intense walking on most days of the week. You can walk in two 15 minute segments or three 10 minute. You can take a walk on the park, or on your treadmill. a. The cost is only 30 minutes from you day, while the reward outweighs it, saving your life from complications of diabetes. Visualization: D. Here are two stories of diabetics who chose two different paths to manage their diabetes. A. Choosing to walk 30 minutes a day can help you manage diabetes and even combat other diseases. You might know Della Reese, remember her in the TV series â€Å"Touched by an Angel† is America’s best loved celebrities diagnosed with diabetes Type 2. Her activities include walking on a treadmill to manage her diabetes. Now she parks a block away and walk. She knew one thing for sure that â€Å"ignorance and fear would kill you quicker than any disease. Now she is in charge of her diabetes and still living her entertainment life. B. Not walking 30 minutes a days to control your diabetes is a big mistake: Remember Jane, the 47 year old triple amputee who has failed to understand how deadly uncontrolled diabetes was, and now faces the possibility of losing her remaining arm in the future? She says ‘Diabetes is a condition that has to be respected otherwise the implications are horrendous. † Call to Action: So I want to urge you to start walking 30 minutes today, for a better tomorrow. If you walk regularly for 30 minutes a day, it can considerably help you control your diabetes and help you be fit and feel better. After surveying the class, I gathered that most of us would want to choose exercise for preference to prevent and or manage diabetes. Just realize that each mile a sedentary person walks will add 21 minutes to their life and save society 24 cents in medical and other costs according to the Rand Corporation, a well-known California based â€Å"think tank formed to offer research and analysis. So put on some comfortable shoes, and start walking 30 minutes a day. Diabetes Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a set of related diseases in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar (specifically, glucose) in the blood. The blood delivers glucose to provide the body with energy to perform all of a person's daily activities. * The liver converts the food a person eats into glucose. The glucose is then released into the bloodstream. * In a healthy person, the blood glucose level is regulated by several hormones, primarliy insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, a small organ between the stomach and liver.The pancreas also makes other important enzymes released directly into the gut that helps digest food. * Insulin allows glucose to move out of the blood into cells throughout the body where it is used for fuel. * People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or cannot use insulin properly (type 2 diabetes), or both (which occurs with several forms of diabetes). * In diabetes, glucose in the blood cannot move efficiently into cells, so blood glucose levels remain high.This not only starves all the cells that need the glucose for fuel, but also harms certain organs and tissues exposed to the high glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes (T1D): The body stops producing insulin or produces too little insulin to regulate blood glucose level. * Type 1 diabetes involves about 10% of all people with diabetes in the United States. * Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed during childhood or adolescence. It used to be referred to as juvenile-onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes can occur in an older individual due to destruction of the pancreas by alcohol, disease, or removal by surgery. It also results from progressive failure of the pancreatic beta cells, the only cell type that produces significant amounts of insulin. * People with type 1 diabetes require insulin treatment daily to sustain life. Type 2 diabetes (T2D): Although the pancreas still secretes insulin, the body of someone w ith type 2 diabetes is partially or completely unable to use this insulin. This is sometimes referred to as  insulin resistance.The pancreas tries to overcome this resistance by secreting more and more insulin. People with insulin resistance develop type 2 diabetes when they fail to secrete enough insulin to cope with their higher demands. * At least 90% of adult individuals with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. * Type 2 diabetes is typically diagnosed in adulthood, usually after age 45 years. It used to be called adult-onset diabetes mellitus, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These names are no longer used because type 2 diabetes does occur in younger people, and some people with type 2 diabetes require insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes is usually controlled with  diet,  weight loss,  exercise, and oral medications. However, more than half of all people with type 2 diabetes require insulin to control their blood sugar levels at some point in the course of their illn ess. Gestational diabetes (GDM)  is a form of diabetes that occurs during the second half of  pregnancy. * Although gestational diabetes typically resolves after delivery of the baby, a woman who develop gestational diabetes is more likely than other women to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Women with gestational diabetes are more likely to have large babies. Metabolic syndrome  (also referred to as syndrome X) is a set of abnormalities in which insulin-resistant diabetes (type 2 diabetes) is almost always present along with  hypertension  (high blood pressure), high fat levels in the blood (increased serum lipids, predominant  elevation of LDL cholesterol, decreased  HDL cholesterol, and  elevated triglycerides),  central obesity, and abnormalities in blood clotting and inflammatory responses.A high rate of  cardiovascular disease  is associated with metabolic syndrome. Prediabetes  is a common condition related to diabetes. In people with prediabetes , the blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be considered diagnostic of diabetes. * Prediabetes increases a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes,  heart disease, or  stroke. * Prediabetes can typically be reversed (without insulin or medication) with lifestyle changes such as losing a modest amount of weight and increasing physical activity levels.Weight loss can prevent, or at least delay, the onset of type 2 diabetes. * An international expert committee of the American Diabetes Association redefined the criteria for prediabetes, lowering the blood sugar level cut-off point for prediabetes. Approximately 20% more adults are now believed to have this condition and may develop diabetes within 10 years if they do make lifestyle changes such as exercising more and maintaining a healthy weight. About 17 million Americans (6. 2% of adults in North America) are believed to have diabetes.AIt has been estimated that about one third of adults with diab etes do not know they have diabetes. * About 1 million new cases of diabetes is diagnosed occur each year, and diabetes is the direct or indirect cause of at least 200,000 deaths each year. * The incidence of diabetes is increasing rapidly. This increase is due to many factors, but the most significant are the increasing incidence of obesity associated with the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle. Complications of diabetes Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes ultimately lead to high blood sugar levels, a condition called  hyperglycemia.Over a long period of time, hyperglycemia damages the retina of the eye, the blood vessels of the kidneys, the nerves, and other blood vessels. * Damage to the retina from diabetes (diabetic retinopathy) is a leading cause of blindness. * Damage to the kidneys from diabetes (diabetic nephropathy) is a leading cause of  kidney failure. * Damage to the nerves from diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) is a leading cause of foot  wounds  and ulcers, which fr equently lead to  foot and leg amputations. Damage to the nerves in the autonomic nervous system can lead to paralysis of the stomach (gastroparesis),  chronic diarrhea, and an inability to control heart rate and blood pressure during postural changes. * Diabetes accelerates  atherosclerosis, (the formation of fatty plaques inside the arteries), which can lead to blockages or a clot (thrombus). Such changes can then lead to  heart attack, stroke, and decreased circulation in the arms and legs (peripheral vascular disease). * Diabetes predisposes people to elevated blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol and  triglycerides.These conditions both independently and together with hyperglycemia, increase the risk of heart disease,  kidney disease, and other blood vessel complications. Diabetes can contribute to a number of acute (short-lived) medical problems. * Many  infections  are associated with diabetes, and infections are frequently more dangerous in someone with diabetes because the body's normal ability to fight infections is impaired. To compound the problem, infections may worsen glucose control, which further delays recovery from infection. Hypoglycemia  or low blood sugar, occurs intermittently in most people with diabetes. It can result from taking too much diabetes medication or insulin (sometimes called an  insulin reaction), missing a meal, exercising more than usual, drinking too much alcohol, or taking certain medications for other conditions. It is very important to recognize hypoglycemia and be prepared to treat it at all times. Headache, feeling dizzy, poor concentration, tremor of the hands, and sweating are common symptoms of hypoglycemia. A person can faint or have a  seizure  if blood sugar level become too low. Diabetic ketoacidosis  (DKA) is a serious condition in which uncontrolled hyperglycemia (usually due to complete lack of insulin or a relative deficiency of insulin) over time creates a buildup of ketones (acidic waste products ) in the blood. High levels of ketones can be very harmful. This typically happens to people with type 1 diabetes who do not have good blood glucose control. Diabetic ketoacidosis can be precipitated by infection,  stress, trauma, missing medications like insulin, or medical emergencies such as a stroke and heart attack. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome  is a serious condition in which the blood sugar level gets very high. The body tries to get rid of the excess blood sugar by eliminating it in the urine. This increases the amount of urine significantly, and often leads to  dehydration  so severe that it can cause seizures,  coma, and even death. This syndrome typically occurs in people with type 2 diabetes who are not controlling their blood sugar levels, who have become dehydrated, or who have stress, injury, stroke, or are taking certain medications, like  steroids. Next Page: Diabetes Causes Diabetes Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a set of related diseases in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar (specifically, glucose) in the blood. The blood delivers glucose to provide the body with energy to perform all of a person's daily activities. * The liver converts the food a person eats into glucose. The glucose is then released into the bloodstream. * In a healthy person, the blood glucose level is regulated by several hormones, primarliy insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, a small organ between the stomach and liver.The pancreas also makes other important enzymes released directly into the gut that helps digest food. * Insulin allows glucose to move out of the blood into cells throughout the body where it is used for fuel. * People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or cannot use insulin properly (type 2 diabetes), or both (which occurs with several forms of diabetes). * In diabetes, glucose in the blood cannot move efficiently into cells, so blood glucose levels remain high.This not only starves all the cells that need the glucose for fuel, but also harms certain organs and tissues exposed to the high glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes (T1D): The body stops producing insulin or produces too little insulin to regulate blood glucose level. * Type 1 diabetes involves about 10% of all people with diabetes in the United States. * Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed during childhood or adolescence. It used to be referred to as juvenile-onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes can occur in an older individual due to destruction of the pancreas by alcohol, disease, or removal by surgery. It also results from progressive failure of the pancreatic beta cells, the only cell type that produces significant amounts of insulin. * People with type 1 diabetes require insulin treatment daily to sustain life. Type 2 diabetes (T2D): Although the pancreas still secretes insulin, the body of someone w ith type 2 diabetes is partially or completely unable to use this insulin. This is sometimes referred to as  insulin resistance.The pancreas tries to overcome this resistance by secreting more and more insulin. People with insulin resistance develop type 2 diabetes when they fail to secrete enough insulin to cope with their higher demands. * At least 90% of adult individuals with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. * Type 2 diabetes is typically diagnosed in adulthood, usually after age 45 years. It used to be called adult-onset diabetes mellitus, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These names are no longer used because type 2 diabetes does occur in younger people, and some people with type 2 diabetes require insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes is usually controlled with  diet,  weight loss,  exercise, and oral medications. However, more than half of all people with type 2 diabetes require insulin to control their blood sugar levels at some point in the course of their illn ess. Gestational diabetes (GDM)  is a form of diabetes that occurs during the second half of  pregnancy. * Although gestational diabetes typically resolves after delivery of the baby, a woman who develop gestational diabetes is more likely than other women to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Women with gestational diabetes are more likely to have large babies. Metabolic syndrome  (also referred to as syndrome X) is a set of abnormalities in which insulin-resistant diabetes (type 2 diabetes) is almost always present along with  hypertension  (high blood pressure), high fat levels in the blood (increased serum lipids, predominant  elevation of LDL cholesterol, decreased  HDL cholesterol, and  elevated triglycerides),  central obesity, and abnormalities in blood clotting and inflammatory responses.A high rate of  cardiovascular disease  is associated with metabolic syndrome. Prediabetes  is a common condition related to diabetes. In people with prediabetes , the blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be considered diagnostic of diabetes. * Prediabetes increases a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes,  heart disease, or  stroke. * Prediabetes can typically be reversed (without insulin or medication) with lifestyle changes such as losing a modest amount of weight and increasing physical activity levels.Weight loss can prevent, or at least delay, the onset of type 2 diabetes. * An international expert committee of the American Diabetes Association redefined the criteria for prediabetes, lowering the blood sugar level cut-off point for prediabetes. Approximately 20% more adults are now believed to have this condition and may develop diabetes within 10 years if they do make lifestyle changes such as exercising more and maintaining a healthy weight. About 17 million Americans (6. 2% of adults in North America) are believed to have diabetes.AIt has been estimated that about one third of adults with diab etes do not know they have diabetes. * About 1 million new cases of diabetes is diagnosed occur each year, and diabetes is the direct or indirect cause of at least 200,000 deaths each year. * The incidence of diabetes is increasing rapidly. This increase is due to many factors, but the most significant are the increasing incidence of obesity associated with the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle. Complications of diabetes Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes ultimately lead to high blood sugar levels, a condition called  hyperglycemia.Over a long period of time, hyperglycemia damages the retina of the eye, the blood vessels of the kidneys, the nerves, and other blood vessels. * Damage to the retina from diabetes (diabetic retinopathy) is a leading cause of blindness. * Damage to the kidneys from diabetes (diabetic nephropathy) is a leading cause of  kidney failure. * Damage to the nerves from diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) is a leading cause of foot  wounds  and ulcers, which fr equently lead to  foot and leg amputations. Damage to the nerves in the autonomic nervous system can lead to paralysis of the stomach (gastroparesis),  chronic diarrhea, and an inability to control heart rate and blood pressure during postural changes. * Diabetes accelerates  atherosclerosis, (the formation of fatty plaques inside the arteries), which can lead to blockages or a clot (thrombus). Such changes can then lead to  heart attack, stroke, and decreased circulation in the arms and legs (peripheral vascular disease). * Diabetes predisposes people to elevated blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol and  triglycerides.These conditions both independently and together with hyperglycemia, increase the risk of heart disease,  kidney disease, and other blood vessel complications. Diabetes can contribute to a number of acute (short-lived) medical problems. * Many  infections  are associated with diabetes, and infections are frequently more dangerous in someone with diabetes because the body's normal ability to fight infections is impaired. To compound the problem, infections may worsen glucose control, which further delays recovery from infection. Hypoglycemia  or low blood sugar, occurs intermittently in most people with diabetes. It can result from taking too much diabetes medication or insulin (sometimes called an  insulin reaction), missing a meal, exercising more than usual, drinking too much alcohol, or taking certain medications for other conditions. It is very important to recognize hypoglycemia and be prepared to treat it at all times. Headache, feeling dizzy, poor concentration, tremor of the hands, and sweating are common symptoms of hypoglycemia. A person can faint or have a  seizure  if blood sugar level become too low. Diabetic ketoacidosis  (DKA) is a serious condition in which uncontrolled hyperglycemia (usually due to complete lack of insulin or a relative deficiency of insulin) over time creates a buildup of ketones (acidic waste products ) in the blood. High levels of ketones can be very harmful. This typically happens to people with type 1 diabetes who do not have good blood glucose control. Diabetic ketoacidosis can be precipitated by infection,  stress, trauma, missing medications like insulin, or medical emergencies such as a stroke and heart attack. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome  is a serious condition in which the blood sugar level gets very high. The body tries to get rid of the excess blood sugar by eliminating it in the urine. This increases the amount of urine significantly, and often leads to  dehydration  so severe that it can cause seizures,  coma, and even death. This syndrome typically occurs in people with type 2 diabetes who are not controlling their blood sugar levels, who have become dehydrated, or who have stress, injury, stroke, or are taking certain medications, like  steroids. Next Page: Diabetes Causes