^{Designed in Canva}

---

Given the ability to eliminate just one disease from existence, which one would you choose and why?

---

If there was a chance to completely remove only one disease from the world, I would choose diabetes. It might leave you wondering why I would want to eliminate it. Well, here’s what I have to tell; diabetes ain’t one of those diseases. It is a disease that directly or indirectly involves everyone, whether you have been diagnosed with it or it has been diagnosed to a family member. It affects nearly all the vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, and eyes, and has been a menace to millions of lives around the globe.

The most prevalent of the two main types of diabetes is Type 2, affecting older people, is due to improper use of insulin. Insulin deficiency leads to high blood sugar, causing a variety of severe health problems. Type 2 drugs such as metformin control Type 2 diabetes. Insulin is not used as treatment, although it is required in some cases. Type 1, the less prevalent, typically begins in childhood or young adulthood with the body failing to generate insulin. Insulin must be administered to control it. It needs continuous monitoring of blood sugar levels and a close check on the diet. Considering the daily challenges the patients face, lifestyles, or the ability to afford continuation in the same, it reduces the quality of life, and in the long run, it reduces life expectancy.

To make it worse, it worsens if the needs of a diabetes patient are not taken care of by lack of a proper diet or poor mental health. It ultimately leads to complications such as heart diseases, stroke, kidney failure, or blindness —It doesn’t even come alone.

Did you know that diabetes is not only a disease of adults? The sad reality is that kids get diabetes too. Just visualize a young child having insulin injected into their bodies; what would be the quality of their childhood? If diabetes was completely eliminated, kids would enjoy doing what they want without fear, and adults would continue to live without losing life quality.

---

Are you acquainted with anyone who has suffered from this disease?

---

This disease is quite common in my mom's side of the family, and many of my relatives suffer from it. Last year, my Ami's health worsened and the symptoms were similar to those of a diabetic patient, so the doctor advised us to get Ami's sugar tested. When the reports came in, the sugar level was quite high.

^{Report of my mother’s blood sugar test result}

The doctor said that your ami has diabetes and it can be controlled as it is in the early stages. Since then, Ami started abstaining from sweets. And now her condition is much better. The doctor did not prescribe any special medicine, the doctor just told Ami to be careful in eating sweets and other high sugar foods, due to which now her sugar level is under control.

My maternal uncle also got the same disease in his youth. And for almost 20 years he was a victim of it. And during this period, despite dieting and treatment, his condition could not be taken care of, and eventually it reached the point where he had to take insulin injections. Due to using too much medicine, his kidneys were badly affected and stopped working. Then he underwent dialysis for almost 2 years and that time was very painful.

Meanwhile, one of his arms also stopped working, which later had to be amputated. It affected his mental health a lot and his hopes of recovery died and finally, fighting this disease, he left this world and left his memories behind. May God have mercy on his soul.

^{My Maternal Uncle Abdul Latif Shah, who has left us for his heavenly abode. 😔}

---

In your opinion, would the world significantly improve if this disease ceased to exist?

---

If we could eliminate diabetes from the world, our life would definitely be better. Just think about the world where all people are healthier and do not need to inject themselves with insulin and do blood tests several times a day. I think it would be great, and there are several reasons for that.

Firstly, it is a non-communicable disease that still kills millions of people every year. That would mean that the world population would live for longer without the disease. I believe that people would be even smarter, more creative and more innovative.

Secondly, I believe that removing diabetes will save a lot of money. Everyone knows how expensive test strips, medicines, and treatments are. Imagine what medical institutions could do with all those millions. They could spend it on education or helping people who are suffering from poverty.

Third, it would reduce secondary complications. Such complications might include heart disease, kidney failure, and vision loss. All those diseases not only make the life of patients miserable but also put an enormous burden on their families. If those secondary problems are removed, families and communities are likely to be more stable and more prosperous.

Moreover, if we eliminate diabetes, our health care systems will also benefit. Currently, hospitals and doctors waste enormous amounts of time and other resources managing diabetes patients. They could use this valuable time for more urgent or under-researched cases.

And, last but not least, I would like to mention that this disease tends to run in many families and transfer from generation to generation. If this disease is removed, it will never be inherited by anyone, which is a significant advantage.

---

^{I would like to invite @patjewell, @radjasalman, @dove11, @soulfuldreamer, @malikusman1, @irawandedy, @weisser-rabe, @steemdoctor1 and @kouba01 to join this contest through this link, if they have not already taken part in it.}

---

^{Author: @waqarahmadshah | Date: 16-May-2024 | Achievement 1}