Provide 2 replies to the peer posts: 

1. For this course, I’m interested in researching Cluster headache (CH) which is known as the “suicide headache”. It is also called Horton’s syndrome. CH is the most severe pain condition that can afflict humans. CH is called the “suicide headache” due to a long history of patients taking their own lives to end the excruciating pain. It occurs in cyclical patterns or cluster periods and commonly awakes you in the middle of the night with intense pain in or around one eye on one side of your head. Frequent attacks known as cluster periods can last from weeks to months. The pain usually strikes without a warning and can proceed from 15 minutes up to 3 hours. The cause of CH is unknown and, unfortunately, no medication has ever been created to cure this horrible condition. It is considered as a rare disease and affects 1 out of every 1000 people.  

Why does this topic interest me? 8 years ago, my husband was diagnosed with CH. I can write a research paper based on the information explored as well as on my own experience. Sadly, we’ve been facing lots of problems throughout the years, but our main concern is the lack of urgency from nurses and doctors regarding this issue. For this patient group, urgency is long overdue, and I hope that, with increased awareness and education, which I aim to help foster, the situation will improve.

2. I’m interested in researching the topic of diabetes. This topic appeals to me because I have family members who have type 2 diabetes, and I am curious about the causes, prevention, and management. Diabetes is a complex condition affecting a large portion of the population, and I believe there’s much to learn about it.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Glucose is your body’s main source of energy. Your body can make glucose, but glucose also comes from the food you eat. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy. If you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin, or doesn’t use insulin properly. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. Diabetes raises the risk of damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. Diabetes is also linked to some types of cancer. Proper management involves monitoring blood glucose levels, adhering to dietary and lifestyle modifications, and taking medications as prescribed. Managing diabetes can be complex and challenging, often requiring continuous monitoring and adjustments. Taking steps to prevent or manage diabetes may lower your risk of developing diabetes health problems. 

Some of the problems I would solve are dietary habits, physical activity, medication adherence, blood glucose monitoring, and tobacco and alcohol avoidance. 

Diabetes is a multifaceted topic that intersects with various disciplines, including medicine, technology, public health, genetics, and ethics. By exploring the complex factors that contribute to the development and management of diabetes, we can work towards more effective prevention strategies, innovative treatments, and improved quality of life for those affected by the condition.