Diabetes Essays (718 words) - Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin

Diabetes Diabetes Diabetes is a very serious disease that attacks millions of people around the world. It can strike at any age and can happen to anyone. Although we are not exactly sure about the causes of diabetes, we believe that it has to do with the body's own immune system attacking and destroying insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, the glucose that we need to live, has a hard time entering the cells of the body that need it. If too much glucose builds up in the blood, then a diabetic may begin to have headaches or blurry vision. They may become very thirsty and have dry, itchy skin. If glucose levels go too low, then a diabetic may feel shaky, tired, hungry, confused, or nervous. There are two types of diabetes. They are called Type 1 and Type 2 Some symptoms of diabetes include: excessive thirst; constant hunger; sudden weight loss for no reason; rapid, hard breathing; sudden vision changes or blurry vision; and drowsiness or exhaustion. These symptoms can occur at any time. Type 1 diabetes is more common in Americans then Type 2. It has affected over 1 million Americans with 30,000 more people diagnosed every year (13,000 of those being children). Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age but is most commonly diagnosed during childhood. In Type 1 diabetes, a person's pancreas produces little or no insulin, and because insulin is necessary for life, people with Type 1 diabetes must take several insulin injection shots each day for the rest of their lives. Although insulin allows a person to stay alive, it does not cure diabetes or prevent it's complications. The blood sugar level of the diabetic must be tested several times daily. One this is done by pricking the finger with a special needle and placing the blood into a machine that will carefully read it. This helps balance the glucose in the blood and will help determine how much insulin is needed. Diabetics need to pay careful attention to their diets, exercise, and blood sugar levels in order to stay healthy. Other factors that can affect the blood sugar levels are stressed, periods of growth, dollars for infection, and fatigue as well as their exercise and any changes in their normal schedule. Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 2 diabetes or, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is different than Type 1 diabetes in one major way. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does make insulin, we so it is not needed to be taken separately, but sometimes, not enough insulin is made or the cells ignore the insulin. Because of the sudden rise or fall in blood sugar levels, people with this type of diabetes must also test their blood several times daily and adjust their diets and exercise accordingly. Insulin boosting pills help this type of diabetic maintain consistent blood sugar levels. With good treatment though, insulin levels can return to nor mal. This, however, does not mean that you are cured. You will always have diabetes, but normal levels shows that you are taking care of yourself. A good diet, exercise, and weight loss can help improve the body's use of insulin. A good diet should include low-fat foods, moderate amounts of protein, and lots of foods high in complex carbohydrates, like beans, vegetables, and grains. Exercise helps the body take in glucose. Exercise also lowers glucose levels and plays a major part in treatment. Losing weight is also a major part in treatment. It can also help the body to use insulin more efficiently. The best way to lose weight is to maintain a good exercise program and a healthy eating plan. If a healthy diet is not kept up, then life-threatening complications may arise. These life-threatening complications include: blindness; heart attack; kidney failure; stroke; nerve damage; and amputation. People with diabetes can live a normal, regular life by keeping track of their blood suga r levels. The average life span of a diabetic is 15 years less than people that are not diabetic. This does not mean that they cannot live a normal life. If a diabetic takes care of themself by exercising and eating right, then their life can be

Armed with Oxyglobin for the veterinary market and Hemopure Essay Example

Armed with Oxyglobin for the veterinary market and Hemopure Essay Example Armed with Oxyglobin for the veterinary market and Hemopure Paper Armed with Oxyglobin for the veterinary market and Hemopure Paper In a market that is yet to experience the ingenuity and brilliance of a safe yet potent blood substitute, Biopure Corporation is at the verge of carving a niche segment for itself. Armed with Oxyglobin for the veterinary market and Hemopure for the human market, the company is all set to make a difference. No doubt, the need for a human blood substitute continues to rise, given the number of elective and emergency surgeries that are taking place, the shelf-life of donated blood, and the fear of transmitted diseases such as AIDS. On the other hand, the demand for blood in the veterinary market is not as acute as that of the human market. Nevertheless, the need does exist. The absence of blood substitutes in the field has resulted in veterinarians viewing blood transfusions as the absolute last resort. It is this situation that Biopure’s product will soon address. When will it begin to do so is the question at hand, to which an answer is yet to be found. Welcoming markets? Set against this background, one needs to take a closer look into the situation that Biopure is facing at the moment. Having to swing between the veterinary and human market, the company has got to study both closely. In the case of the human market, blood donation is currently enabling operations and other procedures that require blood. Clearly, this is not adequate for the number of trauma cases that occur in the United States alone in a single year ? 500,000. Add to this the fact that shelved RBCs are only 50% efficient in transporting oxygen. Evidently then, when a product addresses all the above issues and is a cut above its competitors, being the bovine sourced blood substitute that it is, Hemopure’s potential in the human market is enviable and comes nowhere close to that of its competitors. While Hemopure enjoys this position in the human blood market, the veterinary market seems as promising, if not more. In a survey that was conducted merely among 15,000 veterinary practices alone, primary care itself showed gross revenues of $570,000 and emergency care showed revenues of $770,000. This is a clear indication of the opportunity that abounds in this field. The potential size of this market is seen in a second survey conducted on a group of 285 veterinarians and 200 dog owners. Even at a rate of $200, 60 per cent of the veterinarians were willing to opt for Oxyglobin. More interestingly, and an important factor to consider while setting the price for Oxyglobin, is 65% of dog owners were willing to pay $400 for blood transfusions in critical operations. The size of the veterinary market clearly wasn’t going to be a problem for Biopure Corporation. It was large, it was accepting and definitely, it was waiting for the product to release. Painting the present picture†¦ However, Biopure’s success in the human market is largely dependant on a few factors that have been pointed out and wisely at that, by certain employees. To begin with, the problem of what goes before what arises in the case of Hemopure and Oxyglobin. While some at Biopure Corporation are of the opinion that Oxyglobin should hit the market first, some others believe that it would be wiser for Hemopure to be the first to arrive. If Oxyglobin were to be Hemopure’s predecessor, it would cause a series of challenges, the first of which would begin with pricing. While Oxyglobin is priced at a mere $150 per unit, Hemopure is priced at a slightly ambitious $600 to $800 per unit. It could be perceived as a similar product and the high price would be severely debated, causing an unnecessary stir.