Health Insights: Substance Effects, Diabetes, Autism

Posted on May 14, 2025 in Medicine & Health

Substance Effects and Health Statistics

Alcohol and Marijuana Effects

  • Alcohol and marijuana can have similar effects on the body.
  • US ranks 14th to 17th globally in alcoholism prevalence.
  • US ranks 1st or 2nd globally in drug abuse.
  • Annual societal cost: Alcoholism $180 billion, Drugs $187 billion, Cancer $160 billion.
  • Over 130 people die every day from opioid overdose.
  • 2 million Americans misuse opioids.

Diabetes

Prevalence

  • 30.3 million people have diabetes in the US.
  • 7.2 million people are undiagnosed.
  • 1.5 million new cases are diagnosed each year.
  • Diabetes is increasingly diagnosed in people aged 30 to 40.
  • Native Americans have the highest prevalence (15.1%); European Americans have the lowest.
  • Obesity rate is highest among African Americans (72.7%); lowest among Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders.

Symptoms

  • Persistent fatigue
  • Increased thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased hunger
  • Unexpected weight loss
  • Blurry vision
  • Numbness and tingling of feet
  • Slow-healing wounds
  • Frequent infections
  • Sexual dysfunction

Common Types and Characteristics

  • Type 1 Diabetes:
    • Little or no insulin produced by the body.
    • Usually diagnosed in childhood.
    • BMI is typically normal.
    • Not inherited.
    • Condition at diagnosis: often very sick.
    • Treatment: Insulin only.
  • Type 2 Diabetes:
    • Normal or increased levels of insulin produced, but the body is resistant (insulin resistance).
    • Usually diagnosed in adults.
    • Often associated with being overweight.
    • Hereditary factors play a role.
    • Condition at diagnosis: often mildly ill.
    • Treatment: Oral medications, lifestyle changes, sometimes insulin.

Risk Factors

  • Family history of diabetes.
  • Lower activity levels.
  • For Type 2: Higher prevalence in African Americans (12.7%) and Native Americans (15.1%), obesity.

Treatment Options

  • Type 1: Insulin (injections, pens, pumps, artificial pancreas systems like OmniPod).
  • Type 2: Oral medications, glucose monitoring (at home, by doctor), diet, exercise, bariatric surgery, insulin if needed.
  • Advanced treatments: Dialysis (for kidney complications), transplant (pancreas or kidney).

Potential Consequences

  • Eyes: Diabetic retinopathy (#1 cause of blindness in the US).
  • Kidneys: Loss of function in one or both kidneys (diabetic nephropathy).
  • Heart: Twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
  • Nerves: Pain, numbness, and pins-and-needles sensation (diabetic neuropathy); #1 cause of non-traumatic amputation in the US.
  • Cognitive: Increased risk of cognitive decline.
  • Musculoskeletal: Frozen shoulder, repetitive motion injuries, increased risk of bone fractures.

Related Factors

  • Insulin pumps
  • Transplants
  • Continuous glucose monitoring devices

Return to Work Considerations

  • Accommodations such as frequent breaks.
  • Cool, dry places for medication storage.
  • Flexible work schedule.
  • Time off for doctor appointments.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Diagnosis

  • Prevalence: 1 in 59 children.
  • Boys are 5 times more likely to be diagnosed than girls.
  • Diagnosis can occur as young as 2 years, but the average age is 4+.
  • Genetic factors: 200-400 different genes implicated (account for about 25% of cases).

Symptoms

  • Difficulty socializing and making friends.
  • Difficulty communicating (verbal and non-verbal).
  • Behaviors that are rigid, repetitive, and unusual.

Treatment Approaches

  • Sensory strategies: Heavy work for jaw (chewy candy, gum), squeezing a ball, using clay/play dough/putty, hugging, walking, certain smells.
  • Therapies: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Occupational Therapy (OT).
  • Educational strategies: Modeling, technology-aided instruction and intervention, visual supports (poster rules, visual timers, checklists, written instructions), prioritizing tasks, naturalistic interventions.

Risk Factors

  • Environmental factors: Air pollution, pesticides, viruses, chemicals in household products.
  • Parental factors: Older parents.
  • Maternal health during pregnancy: Gestational diabetes, autoimmune diseases.

Common Limitations

  • Concrete/literal thinking.
  • Problems processing auditory and visual input.
  • High social anxiety.
  • Lack of theory of mind (difficulty understanding others’ perspectives).
  • Rigidity in thinking (difficulty with change).
  • Problem generalizing skills across different situations.

Co-occurring Disorders

  • Mood disorders (anxiety, depression, anger).
  • Sensory processing issues.
  • ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).
  • Sleep disorders.
  • Intellectual disability.
  • Seizures.
  • OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).
  • Gastrointestinal tract problems.