If there’s something I like to watch on YouTube it’s videos on science communication, and Michael Stevens is a great at it. He runs a YouTube channel called Vsauce, in which he explains—in a very articulate yet simple manner—various topics in science, mathematics, anthropology, and philosophy. In his approach, he discusses a topic or question by analyzing it from different points of view, giving various interpretations based on facts and observations.
It’s all very interesting and engaging. For instance, last night I was watching a video on the legal aspects of claiming land on the moon, then I followed up with another one on why we clap.
Why am I writing about a YouTube personality? It came to my attention that he teamed up with an organization to create The Diabetes Download, a new channel where he talks strictly about diabetes facts.
Below is a breakdown of the main points in his introductory video.
Some Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Every 19 seconds a person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
- Diabetes affects 382 million people around the globe.
- About 1.7 million American are diagnosed with diabetes every year.
- An estimated 29 million people in the U.S. live with diabetes. This is something mentioned in a previous post.
- Only 21 million people are diagnosed, leaving 8 million people in the dark about their condition.
- 90% of diabetics have type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Facts
- Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different. In type 1, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. In type 2, the body does not produce enough insulin or does not responds properly to it (insulin resistance).
- High levels of glucose in the bloodstream make the blood thicken and cause problems in the eyes, kidneys and extremities.
- You cannot feel when your blood sugar is high, you can only measure it.
- There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed
Risk Factors
- If you are over 45 years old, you are at a higher risk.
- There is a higher risk if a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes.
- Diabetes appears more often in certain ethnic groups
- Being overweight
- Sedentary lifestyle
The Good News
- Diabetes can be managed by reducing risk factors that can be controlled like weight and physical activity.
Here’s the video for you to watch, check it out. Later, when you have time, I recommend you watch a video from Vsauce to learn something new. I also recommend taking a look at Veritasium and Kurzgesagt—the second one will blow your mind.
