Intrapersonal

 The Intrapersonal level of the Ecological model consists of the personality, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and skills within the individual. These characteristics will determine whether a person deals with the problem of Diabetes. If a person has no previous knowledge of this disease then they may not know what to expect. Therefore, if that person has no previous knowledge then their attitudes and beliefs about this disease will be very vague. I believe that knowledge is the most important part of the intrapersonal level so below is information from the American Heart Association about Diabetes.


About Diabetes

"Diabetes mellitus," more commonly referred to as "diabetes," is a condition that causes blood sugar to rise to dangerous levels: a fasting blood glucose of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more.

How Diabetes Develops

Most of the food you eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for your body to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ near the stomach, produces a hormone called insulin. This hormone is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar or glucose, the basic fuel for cells in the body. Insulin's role is to take sugar from the blood into the cells. When your body does not produce enough insulin and/or does not efficiently use the insulin it produces, sugar levels rise and build up in the bloodstream. When this happens, it can cause two problems:

1. Right away, the body's cells may be starved for energy.

2. Over time, high blood glucose levels may damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.

Types of Diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Both types may be inherited in genes, so a family history of diabetes can significantly increase a person's risk of developing the condition. 

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Historically, type 2 diabetes has been diagnosed primarily in middle-aged adults. Today, however, adolescents and young adults are developing type 2 diabetes at an alarming rate. This correlates with the increasing incidence of obesity and physical inactivity in this population, both of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

This type of diabetes can occur under two different circumstances:

•     The pancreas doesn't make enough insulin, or
•     The body develops "insulin resistance" and can't make efficient use of the insulin it makes

In a mild form, this type of diabetes can go undiagnosed for many years, which is a cause for great concern since untreated diabetes can lead to many serious medical problems, including cardiovascular disease. Type 2 diabetes may be delayed or controlled with diet and exercise.

For more information: Click here to visit the American Heart Association Website