He said that diabetes is so devastating because it's a progressive illness that does lots of organ damage, and the disease gets worse with time.

他说，糖尿病非常具有破坏性，因为这种逐步恶化的疾病会造成许多器官损伤，症状也会随时间加重。

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The chronic, progressive illness is marked by tremors, muscle weakness and a shuffling gait.

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Pensioners should not have to take on cleaning jobs to make ends meet, mothers with young children - or indeed fathers - should not have to leave them in day-care, people with disabilities may not be able to stay in employment during different phases of a progressive illness.

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Now, as a society, we must pressure the medical community to ensure that everyone with a terminal illness benefits from better, more progressive treatment to alleviate pain.

FORBES: Fact and Comment