Chronic Diseases (diabetes) and their Social Repercussions on Patients and their Families A Field Study in Baghdad Hospitals

Abstract

Recently, diabetes is one of the chronic diseases that has spread severally and dramatically in society. Such a disease accompanies people for the rest of their life, and they can only be controlled by taking an insulin injection, as well as following a diet to reduce its complications. In some cases, the health conditions of patients may improve, particularly for children who develop diabetes at an early age with, of course, a lack of genetic predisposition. Diabetes is caused by an imbalance in the human body, such as an imbalance in the pancreatic organ that is responsible for the secretion of insulin in the body. Diabetes is due to many reasons, including genetics, i.e., there is a genetic predisposition to diabetes or dysfunction in the pancreas and insulin secretion disorder. Such a disease has severe complications, including extreme thirst, joint pain, and blurred vision. Any person with this disease needs special care and attention regarding meals and taking medicines. They also need a family member and a doctor specialized in diabetics to check on their blood sugar constantly. The current research aims at identifying chronic diseases, diabetes in particular, and the importance of their social, psychological, health, and economic repercussions. The study employed an analytical descriptive approach. Data were collected by an intentional sample, involving (50) respondents using a questionnaire. The findings of the research revealed that: Most of those with diabetes were males, 74%, while only 26% were females. This indicates that chronic disease affects both females and males alike. Most of those with diabetes were in the age group (42-51) years, 24%, while the age group (51-above) years was 22%. It indicates that these groups are more affected by the chronic disease, diabetes. The educational level of the participants was literate 34%, while 20% were with a diploma degree, which indicates that people with this disease were at the literate level.