Research Memo #1: What really is Diabetes?

Hypothesis:

Most people do not understand how diabetes works. They wonder what the difference between the types is; I would like to educate others using the research that I will conduct. Which leads me to the questions, “how can I educate others on the different types of diabetes? How these types affect the human body and pancreas physically versus emotionally? In addition, what is diabetes and what is the difference between type 1 and type 2?”

            My hypothesis shows that diabetes is a condition that is developed when the pancreas slows or completely stops functioning, which causes insulin to not be produced. This can be tricky when dealing with blood sugar levels; when you consume carbohydrates, without insulin, they break down into glucose (sugar) causing your blood sugar level to rise. When you do not consume carbohydrates your blood sugar level can fall. It is shown in several studies that this causes several side effects, such as, blurred vision, fainting, shakiness, or dizziness, sweating, hunger, and possibly headaches.

I can educate others about this condition by furthering my research and posting it on my blog. This will hopefully inform others of what diabetes really is, what the different types are and the difference, and how it affects a person physically and possibly emotionally.  

Context:

My target audience was the people in a school setting. I chose these people because I felt I should start on a smaller scale and use my research to educate the people in a school setting (school faculty and students.)

The main purpose of my survey was to discover what students know about diabetes versus the faculty members. I feel my results are reliable and valid. The survey takers did not receive any help in completing the survey; instead, they used prior knowledge. A few questions may be biased based on the questioning used.

Results:

Questions	Faculty	Students
1.      In your own words, describe what diabetes is.	80% correctly answered this question	80% correctly answered this question
2. In your own words, describe the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.	30% correctly answered this question	20% correctly answered this question
3. Do you have diabetes or are you related to someone with diabetes?	Opinion/Cannot be proven correct	Opinion/Cannot be proven correct
4. If you answered “no” to question three: do you feel it is more than likely you will get diabetes type 2 because of your eating habits?	Opinion/ Cannot be proven correct	Opinion/Cannot be proven correct
5. If you answered “yes” to question three: were you or the person you know, born with diabetes or diagnosed with it later in life?	Opinion/Cannot be proven correct	Opinion/Cannot be proven correct
6. Who do you think is the most influential in your life, on your eating habits? Check all that apply.	Opinion/Cannot be proven correct	Opinion/Cannot be proven correct
7. Do you think diabetes “runs in the family”?	50% correctly answered this question	50% correctly answered this question
8. What organ does diabetes effect?	80% correctly answered this question	40% correctly answered this question
9. True or false: Diabetes type 2 is more common than type 1.	60% correctly answered this question	30% correctly answered this question
10. True or false: If you eat healthier and work out, you can get rid of diabetes type 1.	70% correctly answered this question	50% correctly answered this question

Data Analysis:

v Finding One: People that are diabetics/know diabetics, know more about the topic than people that do not.

§ Five people out of all my survey takers do not have/ know someone with diabetes. In regards to question one “1.In your own words, describe what diabetes is.” Their responses were as follows:

ü Person 1: sugar problems.

ü Person 2: A disease that affects your cholesterol.

ü Person 3: Bad for your heart.

ü Person 4: when you eat a lot of sugar.

ü Person 5: when your pancreas does not make enough sugar.

Ø  Personal Analysis: I think people that have diabetes know more about it based off of personal experiences. When your doctor diagnoses you with diabetes you doctor usually educates you on what it is and how to take care of yourself while leading a normal life. This is an example of professional education on the topic. People without diabetes normally do not have a talk with their doctor about this matter. If someone were to receive education on the matter, I believe there would be a better chance in the prevention of it.

v Finding 2: Most people do not realize what the difference is between diabetes type one and diabetes type two.

§ Seven of the survey takers that answered the question “2. In your own words, describe the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.”

Said, “I do not know the difference.” Only two of these people do not have diabetes/ do not know someone with diabetes. Only four people out of all the people that completed this survey knew the correct answer.

Ø  Personal Analysis: What is the reason why most people do not understand the difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes? My opinion is that society is not fully educated on the matter of diabetes. “You are diagnosed with diabetes when you do not take care of yourself (over eating and not exercising) “, is a stereotype. This is not the case in some instances.

v Finding Three: Most people do not understand the pancreas is the organ that is affected by diabetes.

§ Five survey takers answered the question “8. What organ does diabetes effect?” and said that the liver is the organ that is affected by diabetes.

Ø  Personal Analysis: Why did five of the survey takers not know the correct organ that diabetes affects? My personal belief on the matter is that society is not well informed on this. Without the proper knowledge about diabetes, how can society battle the diagnosis of diabetes type 2 and possibly type one?

v  Finding Four: Question 6 might have biased responses.

§   “Who do you think is the most influential in your life, on your eating habits?” This question was answered based off personal opinion not fact, which may have caused the survey data to be biased.

Ø  Personal Analysis: Why were the responses possibly biased? My personal opinion is that this question is biased because the answers were based on opinion and not fact.

Conclusion:

Again, my main questions I am asking are “How can I educate others on the different types of diabetes and how they affect the human body and pancreas? What is diabetes? What is the difference between type 1 and type 2?” My hypothesis stated what the condition diabetes is defined as, where it can be developed, and what the side effects are because of low and high blood glucose levels. This is the correct information based off of mainly my research and also prior knowledge. I was correct in the realization that most people do not understand what diabetes is, the difference between the types, and also the effects. My survey data proves this. I thought people would know a little more than what my data is showing me. I did not expect for my survey takers to not know what internal organ diabetes effects. My hypothesis was proven correct in the sense of my targeted population not knowing a great deal about diabetes. However, I expected them to know at least some information. I can conclude my targeted population does not know much about diabetes.  My research will help them to understand.

Follow up:

 I can go anywhere with the data I have collected during conducting my research and forming my Research Memo. I will further my research to explain more about this topic. The most logical essential research question that should be addressed next should be the question, “What are the main reasons why people are diagnosed with diabetes?” I feel I can go almost anywhere with this essential question. I have not changed my research questions because of my research because the research I conducted went as expected.