Category: Diabetes

Today people are presented with a number of opportunities to change and perhaps improve their lives through space exploration and the unpredictable results of space experiments. There is a chance for researchers who have failed to find solutions to various medical, biological, physical, and environmental problems on Earth to continue working in space and try to achieve new results. I believe that space medicine offers one of the most interesting and challenging areas for working with the China Space Station. The unique opportunity presented by this choice is the chance to combine certain scientific issues with recent innovations, ethical concerns, scientific theories, and human resources. Diabetes is a health problem that troubles millions of people around the whole world, regardless of their age, the color of their skin, or their nationality. It cannot be cured, and the only thing that patients can do is learn how to live with it, control the glucose level in their blood, and take precautionary steps. It is time to find out if space exploration, with its lack of gravity, completely new environment, and specialized materials, can contribute to the development of a treatment plan for diabetics.

Diabetes turns out to be a serious problem for many people around the world, and China is a country where about one in ten citizens are classified as diabetic or at least pre-diabetic. The prevalence of this disease continues to grow, and even the most well-funded and experienced researchers and doctors are not able to control it or provide patients with a clear and effective explanation of its cause. In space, people have to face a new environment, so that space medicine and biology require the introduction of original insights. The absence of earth-related stressors or environmental factors and the necessity to change nutrition and daily schedules may have a unique impact on diabetic patients. This experiment aims to determine if space conditions are able to influence glycemic control (i.e., the presence of a high level of glucose in the blood, which is the main cause of diabetes). The connection between gravity and blood flow is evident because it determines peoples ability to walk on Earth. Therefore there is a possibility that gravity and the dynamics of how blood cells work in space can affect the progress of diabetes and present new possibilities for controlling it. Experiments will be needed to find out if this suggestion has the potential to succeed.

As of this moment, the experiments developed by NASA are not sufficient to understand the peculiarities of glucose detection in space. Several steps have already been taken to establish this experimental approach as a solid foundation for space medicine. This area of investigation not only presents a chance to improve space exploration and proves that space activities have their own worth. This idea symbolizes the hope that diabetic people may find a solution to their problem one day. To conduct this research, it will be necessary to analyze past studies and evaluate the results with regard to such factors as gravity and the space environment. Many people who have diabetes would be eager to participate in this research not because of a chance to be famous or earn a lot of money, but because of the opportunity to save the lives of millions of people. When someone loses hope, it becomes unlikely that positive solutions can be found. This research may not only advance medical knowledge but also make a global contribution to public health. New risks, as well as the answers to research questions, should be taken into consideration.

The Chinese space program can be used as an opportunity to facilitate research and experiments in space physics and studying space environments. One of the most prospective studies could be dedicated to investigating solar proton events. Forecasting solar energetic particle events (SEP) is necessary for space operations and satellite launches, as those are particularly vulnerable emissions beyond 45-50 MeV. Since the Chinese space station is expected to remain operational for a very long time, it would be possible to gather a decades worth of data and use it to make predictions about the time and intensity of future emissions. In addition, it is possible to study the relationship between the activity of the Sun in connection to the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. This data is necessary to ensure the safety of long-term labor and the habilitation of astronauts in space.

Another potential venue that could use the assistance of the Chinese space station program is the surveillance of the environment and the prediction of natural disasters. As it stands, the world is in danger from various anthropocentric factors such as the greenhouse gas effect, pollution, oil spills, etcetera. It is possible for the space station to field radars, infrared scanners, and other machinery that could detect and report changes to the environment. Other prospective approaches could involve space geoscience and mesosphere interactions. Developing new sensor technologies will open new opportunities for detecting and controlling the weather, developing a better understanding of the worlds ecology, and provide multidimensional information about air, land, and sea. Based on multimodal approaches to earth geosphere and climate, it would be possible to develop technology to predict earthquakes and other natural disasters as well.

Collaboration with the Chinese space station program is a good way to facilitate experiments and research that were conducted as part of other space programs. For example, the construction of space telescopes is an important part of modern space science and technology development. Station-based telescopes are not affected by Earths atmosphere, thus being capable of perceiving light at much greater distances. At the same time, they allow for a much greater degree of fluidity and human-machine interaction when compared to satellite-based telescopes. The new Chinese space station can potentially serve as a platform for a giant telescope, bigger than anything ever built in space before.

Lastly, the appearance of another space station orbiting the planet enables greater opportunities for Earth studies. NASA has been actively working to develop and implement the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System, or CATS, which enables studying clouds, ash, smoke, and other substances in the Earths atmosphere, from space. One such system was a joint project between the USA and France in 2006. It is possible to install a similar system onboard the space station and enable the stations crew to operate it. The system involves using a lidar  a laser-based radar system, in order to measure and study the thickness and distance between the clouds and different parts of the atmosphere. Not only this would break the western monopoly over the technology, but it would also ensure a spirit of competition that would ultimately lead to progress. Lastly, this project would enhance humanitys understanding of how various gaseous and particle substances sprayed across the atmosphere would affect weather patterns and world climate. Some of the potential applications include reducing the levels of pollution, protection from radiation, and even reparations to the ozone layer.

Food is essential to human beings, but when someone has diabetes, diet becomes the only solution. In our modern society, ambition is usually considered to be a positive word: &it is a strong or ardent desire of anything considered advantageous, honoring, or creditable (OED, def.#2). Look around the world, most the people are working hard to fulfill their ambitions: wealth and power. Are the ambitions still something that will give people hope and happiness? No! Ambitions are giving people another kind of Diabetes, and it is time to Diet.

Readers can learn more about how ambitions are causing sickness by analyzing one of the most famous William Shakespeares tragedies- Macbeth. By analyzing Shakespeares work from the perspective of character, setting, symbolism, and plot, readers can understand how these ambitions destroyed the Macbeths step by step. Although ambition could destroy ones future, Shakespeare also showed us another tragedy caused by a lack of ambition in Hamlet. Therefore, ambition is just like food, which is important, but one cannot have too much, and for someone who has Ambition Diabetes like Macbeths and Claudius, a Logo Diet would be a good choice.

One of the big three tragedies from Shakespeare, Macbeth, mainly focuses on describing how Macbeths, who have an ambition diabetes disease, go to death. At the beginning of this play, Macbeth was an honorable general; he just came back from tough combat. His ambition diabetes start from when three witches said: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! /All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter (Shakespeare 1.3, line 49-51)!

His response was that: Stay, your imperfect speakers, tell me more (Shakespeare 1.3, line 71). His response shows his curiosity for these three witches, and it also reflects his ambition or hope at this time to be the thane of Cawdor and king. This fact is undeniable, as the Academy concluded that the man was affected so greatly that he decided to seize a throne (170).

However, it is significant to realize that, in this case, ambitiousness characterizes not only Macbeth but also the witches. When the soldier meets the witches, they start interacting with them in order to meet their goal of changing the lives of the whole kingdom. These characters make the man think that he is able to do everything, but they are the ones who trigger all the following actions. Macbeth becomes a puppet in their hands, and he assists the witches without realizing it. There is a possibility that he would remain an honorable soldier if he did not interact with them and acknowledge that he will turn into a king in the future.

Under this influence, Macbeth becomes the most ambitious man in the play, and this trait of character makes him a murderer. He states: I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself / And falls on the other (Shakespeare 1.7, line 26-29). The man kills his kinsman, Duncan, because he wants to be a king but understands that he is suspected of this crime. As a result, he also murders Banquo, with whom he had friendly relationships.

The man also tries to kill his son and then sends people to deal with Macduff, his wife, and his child. In this way, ambitions turned a great soldier into a serial killer and a bloody tyrant, which proves that they are a disease that requires restriction. The lives of many individuals could be saved if Macbeth kept to a diet. The main character commits suicide eventually, so it can be said that diabetes led to his death. This idea is supported by Langis, who believes that Shakespeares characters often act on the basis of their passions, paying little attention to reasoning (45).

One more character who experiences different influences of ambitiousness is Malcolm. Being the son of the king, he is initially expected to follow his path. Thus, when realizing that Macbeth starts ruling England, Malcolm (who was abroad initially) decides to take his kingdom back. His ablations are associated with his duty to be an heir, which makes him act more reasonably.

Malcolm realizes that he is not the best possible king yet, so he tries to ensure that people are willing to follow him: I am young; but something / You may deserve of him through me, and wisdom / To offer up a weak, innocent lamb / To appease an angry god (Shakespeare 4.3, line 14-18). Just as a person who realizes that he needs to intake food, Malcolm allows his ambition to become a king to lead him. However, unlike Macbeth, he realizes that it is critical to remain clever in this situation and to use different tricks, being supported by friends. The prince limits his ambition and keeps to a diet.

Ambition is familiar to Lady Macbeth as well, as she takes to the husbands idea to become a king and wants to benefit from his position. When Macbeth reconsiders his idea of killing Duncan, the woman starts questioning his masculinity in order to make him act: When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And, to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man (Shakespeare 1.7, line 41-51). Moreover, her ambition goes so far that she becomes willing to act instead of her husband. Lady Macbeth emphasizes that she is able to cope with the mans job to control Macbeths actions and make him follow her plan.

It can be proved, as she states: Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty (Shakespeare 1.5, line 30-34). However, the woman goes mad because of her ambitions. She eats too much and cannot live with Duncans blood on her hands, so she kills herself. Here, blood also appears as a symbol of guilt that tortures people who spill it, which is supported by de Jongh, who mentions that Lady Macbeth disintegrates into sleep-walking gilt (240).

The setting of the play affects the characters ambitions as well. Initially, the story shows Macbeth on a gloomy battlefield that influences his state of mind. Darkness symbolizes evil and danger. It puts the whole kingdom in disorder and makes the main character crueler than he really is. Macbeth seems to be a noble soldier who fights for this country in order to ensure the safety of its population. However, the setting makes him evil and ready to kill for his ambitions.

As the environment becomes darker, the man turns out to become more and more dangerous. It is also possible to see that all characters are murdered at night. In this way, this part of a day appears to symbolize death. When the sun goes down, people become vulnerable because darkness hides all crimes and sins. This setting provides characters with an opportunity to act blindly and to fulfill their ambitions by any means. When Macbeth comes to murder his king, he wants stars to hide everything so that he can commit a crime even without seeing his actions. Night affects not only humans but also animals, as Duncans horses seemed to make war with mankind, as they became aggressive that day (Shakespeare 2.4, line 18).

Castles that can be seen in the play turn out to be deceiving and make it easier for their owners to follow their ambitions. For instance, Macbeths castle seems to be peaceful and appealing initially: This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air / Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself / Unto our gentle senses (Shakespeare 1.6, line 1-3). However, this building remains cold inside, which can be associated with Macbeths behavior, as he is convinced by his wife to kill the king while acting like a noble soldier at the same time. Moreover, Lady Macbeth deceives her husband as she makes him murder Duncan. In this way, castles have the same nature as their owners and are associated with negative actions conducted under the influence of ambition.

The setting of Birnam Wood makes Macbeth believe that he is invincible and that he should follow this ambition to become a king. The witches mention: Macbeth shall never be vanquished be until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill / Shall come against him (Shakespeare 4.1, line 93-94). Believing that he is the one who can impress the forest, bid the tree / Unfix his earth-bound root, Macbeth becomes even more ambitious, which leads him to destruction (Shakespeare 4.1, line 95-96). Thus, this place makes the main character believe in his own powers to change his life and the life of the whole kingdom.

While the characters of Macbeth face adverse outcomes of their ambitiousness, Hamlet proves that it is required and should not be totally abandoned. The man doubts himself: How stand I, then, / That have a father killed, a mother stained,& / And let all sleep, while to my shame I see / The imminent death of twenty thousand men& / O, from this time forth / My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth! (Shakespeare 4.5, line 57-69). Hamlet parents were murdered and corrupted, and he faces the necessity to revenge for them. Even though he is not looking for fame or power, Hamlet lacks ambition, because it can be treated as a desire for activity or exertion (Merriam-Webster).

The lack of it makes him passive, and the character does nothing to fulfill his goal. He spends hours considering whether his inaction is shameful and trying to improve the situation but often loses his revenge focus: Do not forget. This visitation / Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose (Shakespeare 3.4, line 126-127). However, the absence of proactiveness makes him a victim of a conspiracy and leads to his death. Payne believes that answering his questions, Hamlet could have an opportunity to alter his faith and act another way (34). Thus, he could have benefited if he had decided to take another path and to revenge for his parents initially.

It can be clouded that ambition is a trait the performance of which should be controlled. The characters of Macbeth were too focused on their desire to obtain the benefits of kingship. They acted cruelly and were ready to kill for this goal even though they did not really have a legal right to be monarchs. In this way, Macbeth and his wife consumed too much ambition, which led to diabetes that ended with their death. However, the absence of this food made another Shakespeares character, Hamlet, die. The man was not ambitious at all, so he was easy to manipulate. Thus, a healthy diet is required to ensure positive outcomes of ambitiousness.

Works Cited

Merriam-Webster. Definition of Ambition. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Web.

Health is defined by the World Health Organization as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing. It is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Factors that affect health can be divided into many categories. The current paper explores these elements using a case study of diabetes. The analysis is provided in the context of health belief model as the preferred approach to behavioral change.

Diabetes: A Brief Outline

The term diabetes is used to describe a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood. The condition is mainly brought about by low or inadequate production of insulin in the body. It can also be caused by the failure of body cells to respond properly to insulin (Brown, Dougherty, Garcia, Kouzekanani & Hanis, 2002). There are two major types of diabetes. They include diabetes mellitus type 1 and diabetes mellitus type 2.

The latter is also known as the disease of affluent. It is characterized by chronic and non-communicable diseases. Personal lifestyles and societal conditions associated with economic development are believed to be important risk factors associated with this condition. Obesity is a growing health concern in the world, especially due to its high prevalence rates among the youth. For example, between 2001 and 2009, cases of this condition among individuals aged below 20 years rose by 23% in the USA alone (Cash, 2014).

Behavioral Change Programs Used in Overcoming Obesity

Selected Model

The health belief model was selected for the purposes of this study to deal with diabetes. It is a psychological framework used to identify, predict, and explain behavioral patterns related to health (Carpenter, 2010). It has 4 major constructs highlighting the perceived threat and the associated benefits. They include the following:

1. Perceived vulnerability.
2. Apparent severity.
3. Perceived benefits.
4. Perceived hurdles.

The framework above was selected for a number of reasons. For example, it helps the target population to acknowledge the negative impacts of a given health condition (Marks, 2003). Behavioral change projects in relation to diabetes have progressed over the years. Today, they include a wide range of activities and approaches. Most of these interventions focus on the individual as the locus of change (Glanz, Rimer & Viswanath, 2008).

Behaviors Contributing to the Diabetes Problem

There are various individual behavioral elements that increase the risk of becoming diabetic or succumbing to the condition. They include, among others, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, failure to take medication, and lack of problem solving skills (Cash, 2014). Other risk factors include lack of awareness and ignorance among the target population. It is important to address these issues to help deal with the health problem.

Using Health Belief Model to Deal with Diabetes

The model is made up of four interdependent elements as described below:

Perceived vulnerability

When using this model, individuals are made to realize that they can contract a given health condition if they fail to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The practitioner starts by first gauging the beliefs of the target population with regards to the link between risky lifestyle and diabetes. They are taught how poor feeding habits, lack of physical exercise, and such other issues may predispose them to diabetes (Carpenter, 2010). As such, they are encouraged to go for screening (Brown et al., 2002).

Apparent severity

Diabetes leads to a number of health complications. The aim here is to deal with the communitys belief systems in relation to perceived severity of diabetes. Members of the public will be made to acknowledge the consequences of contracting diabetes. As a result, they will realize that it is important to go for screening (Carpenter, 2010).

The aim is to help those at risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes to significantly reduce the chances of contracting it. In addition, the approach can be used to help those with diabetes to regulate their glycerin levels (Glanz et al., 2008).

Perceived benefits

The objective is to analyze the perceptions of the community members in relation to the avoidance of the risk factors (Marks, 2003). The benefits of adhering to the instructions provided will be made apparent.

Perceived barriers

Adhering to the instructions provided to help avoid or mitigate effects of diabetes has its consequences. One of them includes disruption of lifestyles (Kapyla, 1996). The beliefs of the target population in relation to this element will be gauged. Their fears will be dealt with accordingly.

Legislation as an Ecological Framework

The Ecological Determinants of Diabetes

Individual behavior is influenced to a large extent by their environment. The proposed ecological framework can be used to deal with factors beyond the control of the person at three levels.

Micro level

It contains structures that the individual has direct contact with (Kapyla 1996). They include the family, the school, and neighborhood. Diabetes can easily arise at this level because lifestyle is largely determined by significant others around the individual.

Legislations can be put in place to ensure that parents become good role models. In addition, access to unhealthy foods among children, such as sweetened drinks, should be regulated. Policies can also be formulated to ensure that schools organize walks and other forms of physical exercises for their learners (Cash, 2014).

Meso level

The level connects two or more systems in which an individual lives. An example is the link between teachers and parents in relation to children with diabetes. Governments can formulate policies to rally people around activities related to prevention of diabetes in municipalities, districts, and healthcare. Persons living with diabetes should be accommodated at this level (Marks, 2003).

Macro level

It is made up of cultural values, customs, and laws (Kapyla 1996). Companies dealing with the manufacture of unhealthy foods should be banned from promoting their products near schools. In addition, government can set aside funds to support such projects as riding bicycle to school or work.

Factors Targeted by the Ecological Model to Alleviate the Problem of Diabetes

The condition can be controlled through physical exercise (Brown et al., 2002). To this end, one factor to be addressed entails the design of public structures. In such cases, people are likely to use the stairs instead of lifts. Another factor involves public transport. Sidewalks and bicycle lanes should also be properly maintained.

They should be regarded to be as important as highways (Kapyla 1996). The third element involves participation. Community leaders should ensure that food outlets within their jurisdictions adhere to set health standards. They should regulate the number of fast food joints to promote good eating habits. The last factor has to do with resources. Funds should be made available for projects aimed at reducing diabetes.

Conclusion

Behavior change is an effective way of controlling most health conditions, such as diabetes. The health belief model can be used to help change the perceptions of the target population in relation to diabetes.

However, the individual has no control over a number of elements relating to the environment around them. As such, there is a need to come up with an ecological model to complement the selected behavioral framework. In conclusion, it is clear that many diseases like diabetes can be prevented through the adoption of the appropriate interventions.

References

Brown, S., Dougherty, J., Garcia, A., Kouzekanani, K., & Hanis, C. (2002). Culturally competent diabetes self-management education for Mexican Americans: The Starr County border health initiative. Diabetes Care, 25(2), 259-268.

Carpenter, C. (2010). A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of health belief model variables in predicting behavior. Health Communication, 25(8), 661-669.

Cash, J. (2014). Family practice guidelines (3rd ed.). New York: Springer.

Glanz, K., Rimer, B., & Viswanath, K. (2008). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Kapyla, M. (1996). Cultural-Ecological frame of reference as organizer of contents in environmental education. European Education, 28(3), 82-94.

Marks, J. (2003). Perioperative management of diabetes. American Family Physician, 67(1), 93-100.

Individuals living in the contemporary society are faced with numerous health issues and challenges. Majority of these problems are brought about by the unhealthy behavior and lifestyle associated with the affluent modern society. Consequently, the need for healthy behaviors and demand for health education are growing significantly. It is important to put in place strategic programs to facilitate behavioral changes. Such interventions will encourage people to engage in positive behaviors, resulting in healthy lifestyles.

According to Glanz, Rimer, and Viswanath (2008), health education focuses on addressing the gap between the existing strategies using in optimizing health and the actual practices. In light of this, health education can be used to bring about behavioral changes within individuals and societies. The intervention can be used to move from detrimental activities to positive practices that favor health.

On its part, healthy behaviors refer to the actions undertaken by individuals or groups with the aim of promoting their wellbeing. Such practices touch on the determinants, correlations, and consequences of health (Glanz et al., 2008). In addition, healthy conduct refers to those personal attributes associated with the maintenance, restoration, and improvement of individual wellbeing (Glanz et al., 2008).

The attributes include beliefs, expectations, desires, goals, attitudes, and other cognitive elements. They also entail personality traits, including affective and emotional statuses and dispositions. Healthy mannerisms also take into consideration explicit behavior patterns, actions, and habits (Glanz et al., 2008).

Going by the above definitions of health education and healthy behaviors, it is apparent that both can be used to address the various issues affecting human society today. In the current paper, the author develops a program to be used in addressing the problems associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Health Issues in Contemporary Society: An Overview

The two conditions are a major health concern in the modern society. It is a fact that genetics play a major in the development of diabetes in an individual. However, in spite of this, behavioral practices, such as food consumption, are believed to be major triggers of this disease. Vanderwood, Hall, Harwell, Butcher, and Helgerson (2010) identify a number of behavioral risk factors in relation to diabetes and heart disease. They include, among others, low vegetable and fruit consumption, cigarette smoking, and reduced physical activity.

Cardiovascular disease does not necessarily result from diabetes. However, experts argue that it is one of the major complications arising from the condition. According to Ljung, Olsson, Rask, and Lindahl (2013), type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are the most common public health problems.

It is noted that lifestyle modification can help prevent 80% of the cases (Ljung et al., 2013). Cardiovascular complications have become the leading cause of death globally. To this end, they accounted for 30% of deaths reported in the world in 2008 (Ljung et al., 2013).

The prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases has increased in the last 10 years, especially in the developed countries (Ljung et al., 2013). The situation exerts enormous pressure on existing healthcare systems given that the resources set aside for this sector are not elastic.

As such, promoting healthy behaviors is an important element of the interventions used to address the two conditions. For instance, Vanderwood et al. (2010) propose a framework of health education and healthy behavior among individuals diagnosed with these diseases.

According to Ljung et al. (2013), the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is expected to rise by more than 200 percent between 2000 and 2030. Within this period, the number of reported cases will rise from 171 million to 366 million. The main risk factors associated with these problems are related to individuals lifestyle. Such predisposing elements include, among others, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor eating habits.

Factors related to the individual are major drivers behind the prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, it is also clear that the society plays a significant role in this development. For example, the prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular complications in the developed countries is mainly driven by sedentary lifestyles characterizing these societies.

In addition, people in developed nations have shifted to the consumption of high-calorie foods that are rich in processed fats. The consumption is detrimental to their health (Vanderwood et al., 2010).

Healthy Behavior and Health Education in Relation to Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases: Program Strategy

The Goals and Objectives of the Program

The intervention has two major objectives. The two include increasing awareness among the target population in relation to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. A number of campaigns have been conducted in the past to sensitize people on healthy lifestyles. However, most of these interventions were very broad.

They failed to focus on one particular health issue or problem. The design of the proposed program is meant to ensure that it escapes from this bottleneck (Ljung et al., 2013). Consequently, the intervention focuses on the creation of awareness with regards to how people can adopt healthy behaviors and habits.

The other objective is to encourage people to actually engage in the identified healthy behaviors, especially with regards to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It is clear that in spite of the existing knowledge in relation to healthy lifestyles and balanced diets, most people disregard the messages propagated by these campaigns. The number of people still dying from diabetes and cardiovascular related conditions can attest to this (Glanz et al., 2008).

A number of health education and healthy behavior theories have been incorporated into the proposed program. The aim is to enhance the impact of this intervention on individuals and on the society at large. The proposed construct is expected to communicate risks associated with unhealthy behaviors, as well as encourage people to be proactively in changing the situation (Vanderwood et al., 2010).

General Concepts and Key Elements of the Program

The planned strategy is a comprehensive undertaking in the sense that it addresses the problem at the individual and the societal levels. According to White, Terry, Troup, and Rempel (2007), improper diets, mental stress, and inadequate physical activity are the major contributors to the pathogenesis of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Consequently, the elements are major lifestyle modification components of the program.

The first phase of the project involves the development of health promotion activities. The activities include educating individuals and the entire society on common risk factors that increase susceptibility to diabetes and cardiovascular complications.

The communication will be propagated through different settings, such as healthy workplaces, health-oriented schools, and other institutions. The essence of this phase is to avert the emergence of the two diseases. It is also aimed at reducing the prevalence of the existing risk factors within the society (White et al., 2007).

The next step of the intervention entails risk assessment and management. The objective will be achieved by carrying out opportunistic but conscientious blood screening. Community screening campaigns should be carried out with the help of all social stakeholders. In addition, patients visiting hospitals should be encouraged to voluntarily consent to blood screening for these conditions (Glanz et al., 2008).

Health workers will be at the forefront in the implementation of the program. Their participation will require the setting up of resource centers and institutions for the program. Paramedics will be tasked with the responsibility of supervising the various activities being undertaken.

In addition, individuals and the entire society will be motivated to take part in the program through the use of role models (White et al., 2007). The models will include prominent personalities suffering from the conditions and those who have improved their health by engaging in the behavior modification activities.

The program will also include the promotion of healthy behavior among children of all ages. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2007), the formative years are essential in setting the path for ones future health. As such, the children will be educated on the need for balanced diets. They will also be trained on the importance of engaging in physical activities at a tender age, especially sports. Health behavior will be incorporated into their early childhood education (ECD) programs.

The lifestyle of most people in contemporary society is largely sedentary and work oriented. Consequently, healthy workplaces and health promoting schools will be developed. Every institution will be encouraged to set up such facilities as gyms and allocate time for employees to use them. Healthy workplaces can also be established by encouraging the provision of supportive environment and proper diets (Glanz et al., 2008). In addition, health promotion should be incorporated into occupational safety programs for enhanced effectiveness.

Every community should at least have a public gym. They should also have exercise clubs and other venues suitable for physical activities. Education officials, parents, students, and community leaders will be used to promote health education in their communities. Ultimately, healthy behavior and health education policies will be developed and implemented at all levels of the society (Vanderwood et al., 2010).

Theories and Models Supporting the Program

The social cognitive theory (SCT) will be used as the behavioral change construct in addressing the issue of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the society. The choice of the theory is based on its comprehensive nature and ability to bring together different concepts. SCT advances the importance of continuous and ongoing interactions between the individual, the environment, and the target behavior.

According to Glanz et al. (2008), majority of social and behavioral theories focus on the self and on the environmental and social factors that determine a given trait. Some of these elements include social norms exhibited through mediums of mass communication, rewards, and barriers.

The proponents of SCT argue that human behaviors are the result of dynamic interplays between environmental, behavioral, and human influences (Ljung et al., 2013). The theory focuses on the ability of individuals to alter and construct environments that suit their purposes (White et. al., 2007). The assumption is based on the fact that human beings have the capacity to interact with and shape their surroundings. They do this either individually or as a society.

Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are chronic conditions whose major susceptibility contributor is the individuals lifestyle. The proposed strategy reflects the concepts of SCT by seeking to prompt individuals to take action. Educating the society on healthy behavior creates awareness among individuals with regards to their ability to rise above their condition (White et al., 2007).

The program is used to enlighten the society on its capacity to prevent and overcome diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. The strategy further seeks to alter the environment by instilling a culture of healthy eating habits and physical activity. The creation and development of more exercise facilities alters the surroundings literally. It ensures that people are more exposed to exercises.

The proposed program is based on four concepts of SCT. The concepts are outlined in the table below:

Table 1: Social cognitive theory concepts.

Source: Glanz et al. (2008)

In relation to the concept of reciprocal determinism, the program seeks to encourage individuals to alter their behaviors since they are capable of doing so. The health education aspect of the strategy focuses on this concept of SCT. Once the society has been saturated with information regarding diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the next step is to have them act on this knowledge (Glanz et al., 2008).

Outcome expectations are apparent in the proposed program. The concept is part of the reciprocal determinism aspect of the strategy. During the propagation of health education in the society, people will also be made aware of the benefits associated with lifestyle modifications. Once enlightened in this respect, the problems associated with convincing them to take part in the program are reduced (Vanderwood et al., 2010).

The concept of observational learning in the SCT theory is next incorporated into the diabetes and cardiovascular prevention and management program. The strategic project proposes the use of role models in promoting health in the society. Exposing the targets to these individuals will encourage them to embrace the program. In addition, exposing the society to media displays of other communities implementing the plan and their experiences will facilitate its overall acceptance (White et al., 2007).

The proposed program emphasizes on the need for lifestyle changes. Once people adopt a given habit, it is very difficult for them to change. Some individuals may never change without proper facilitation. The realization is the major reason behind the setting up of exercise facilities, health clubs, and other amenities in the society.

Implementation of healthy behavior and health education policies is also based on the concept of facilitation. Educating children on healthy living is aimed at facilitating them to develop positive habits as they grow (White et al., 2007). In addition, healthy workplace policies facilitate the promotion of functional behaviors under various social settings.

Conclusion

Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are exerting pressure on the healthcare system and on the society at large. The formulation and implementation of effective programs to address the issue can significantly reduce deaths and costs associated with the conditions. The proposed strategy is based on SCT model. The theory provides the formulators of this project with a social analysis perspective and framework. The two will be used to promote healthy living through health education in the society.

References

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2007). A science-based framework for early childhood policy: Using evidence to improve outcomes in learning, behavior, and health for vulnerable children.

Glanz, K., Rimer, K., & Viswanath, K. (2008). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (4th ed.) Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Ljung, S., Olsson, C., Rask, A., & Lindahl, S. (2013). Patient experiences of a theory-based lifestyle-focused group treatment in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 20(1), 378-384.

Vanderwood, K., Hall, T., Harwell, T., Butcher, M., & Helgerson, S. (2010). Implementing a state-based cardiovascular disease and diabetes prevention program. Diabetes Care, 33(1), 2543-2545.

White, K., Terry, D., Troup, C., & Rempel, A. (2007). Behavioral, normative, and control beliefs underlying low-fat dietary and regular physical activity behaviors for adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 12(4), 485-494.

There are two categories of diabetes, which are type-1 and type-2. The existing medical research discovered the treatment of type-1 diabetes. This type of diabetes is less common and only occurs during the early stage when the immune system of the body attacks and destroys cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. The type-2 diabetes is a common health problem among many people but it is hard to treat. Stem cell research has discovered a possible medical treatment for various health conditions by growing transplantable cells and body organs (Bruin et al., 2015).

The new treatment approach might be used to control type-2 diabetes. Through stem cell therapy, doctors can develop new insulin-producing cells to replace the ones lost by the pancreas. The approach could help control type-2 diabetes, which is harder to treat but constitutes 90 percent of all cases of diabetes throughout the world (Szot et al., 2015).

Currently, there is no proven stem-cell-based treatment for type-2 diabetes. Through laboratory experiments, scientists were able to make beta cells, which could be transplanted in the pancreas of diabetic patients. The current research is exploring the possibilities of making new beta cells essential for stem cell therapy. The approach could lead to the transformation of mature pluripotent stem cells into beta cells through laboratory processes. These beta cells can then be transplanted into the patient with type-2 diabetes.

The research also explores the possibility of making mature beta cells from other organs such as liver cells and transplants them into a diabetic patient. Antibiotic drugs are also expected to be used to trigger the successful insertion of the cells in the pancreas of a diabetic patient (Bruin et al., 2015).

The stem cell research activities done in various laboratories have shown the possibilities of having great success. However, the main challenge is how to protect the cells transplanted from being attacked by the bodys immune system. Pluripotent cells can be used to make any type of human cell. It is with this regard that the researchers explore the possibility of using the platform to make fully functioning beta cells. The success of the research could make it possible to replace the donor pancreatic islets of the Langerhans, which are scare body resources (Szot et al., 2015). Researchers have managed to produce pluripotent stem cells that respond to blood sugar in the same way as beta cells. During the clinical trials, the beta cells will undergo safety tests.

On the other hand, some researchers explore the possibility of using the already existing pancreatic cells in the patient to create new beta cells. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether the stem cells are present in the pancreas although the researchers had discovered the existence of beta-cell progenitors. Also, researchers are looking for drugs, which can activate these progenitor cells in the diabetic patient or trigger other mature cells in the pancreas to create beta cells.

These include the possibility of using mature cells from organs such as the liver and skin to create beta cells through laboratory processes (Bruin et al., 2015). These scientific approaches are still in the experimental stages and they have not reached the clinical trial stages. The successful experimental activities and clinical trials of stem cell therapy would provide greater relief for patients with type 2 diabetes.

References

Bruin, J., Saber, N., Braun, N., Fox, J., Mojibian, M., & Asadi, A. (2015). Treating diet-induced diabetes and obesity with human embryonic stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitor cells and antidiabetic drugs. Stem Cell Reports, 4(4), 605-620.

Szot, G., Yadav, M., Lang, J., Kroon, E., Kerr, J., & Kadoya, K. (2015). Tolerance induction and reversal of diabetes in mice transplanted with human embryonic stem cell-derived pancreatic endoderm. Cell Stem Cell, 16(2), 148-157.

According to a study conducted by Aguayo-Mazzucato and Bonner-Weir (2010), there is a cure neither for diabetes type 1 nor diabetes type 2. However, research by Chhabra and Brayman (2013) established that there is a way to treat diabetes type 2. The rationale is that positive results were observed from experiments where stem cell therapy was used to prevent and treat different types of diseases. Diabetes type 1 which is known as insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) occurs when the immune system identifies and destroys the pancreatic cells which produce insulin. Diabetes type 2 which is non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) prevalent in adults mostly, is caused by insufficient production of insulin, which makes the body cells nonresponsive to the insulin.

The results of a specialized study by Chhabra and Brayman (2013) on the treatment of diabetes type 2, which makes 90% to 95% of the cases known globally, has shown that it is viable to treat this disease using stem cells therapy. Research conducted by Brignier and Gewirtz (2010) compared traditional treatment methods which are the use of diets, exercises, and drug administration to a combination of oral medication and stem cell therapy. It also showed that the disadvantage of oral medication is that it subjects the patient to low blood levels, weight gain, and gastrointestinal problems, which can be overcome by combining stem cell therapy with the traditional methods (Brignier & Gewirtz, 2010). The first stem cell treatment tested on mice with diabetes type 2 as a potential alternative to the traditional treatment techniques used a combination of traditional methods with stem cell therapy based on insulin replacement. Here, Hocking and Gibran (2010) noted that the specialized use of leptin replacement reversed the resistance to insulin in mice with moderate fat deficiency.

According to Hocking and Gibran (2010), the experiment was done first inducing markers into the mouse with diabetes type 2 that was fed on a high-fat diet to reduce the bodys response to insulin. Then, the second phase consisted of encapsulating pancreatic progenitor cells from the human embryonic stem cells before they were transplanted into the mice (Hocking & Gibran (2010, p.2). Here, the first group of animals was treated using stem cells and drugs, while the second group of animals was treated using the drugs only. The first group of mice that were treated with a combination of stem cell therapy and drugs showed a stronger positive response to the combined treatment than the second group.

A similar study that used metformin, sitagliptin, and rosiglitazone drugs combined with stem cell therapy where mice were subjected to a combined treatment plan of antidiabetic medication with stem cell transplantation showed that the mice underwent weight loss and glucose metabolism successfully (Jarajapu & Grant, 2010, p.4).

According to the findings by Holscher (2010), it is possible to replicate the results on human beings to increase the metabolism of the body cells by targeting derived mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) from adult allogeneic bone-marrow.

In conclusion, the answer to the question if stem cell therapy promises the cure for diabetes is affirmative because the research analyzed has yielded positive results which show that the combined treatment of diabetes type 2 using stem cells and oral administration of drugs is possible.

References

Aguayo-Mazzucato, C., & Bonner-Weir, S. (2010). Stem cell therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 6(3), 139-148.

Brignier, A. C., & Gewirtz, A. M. (2010). Embryonic and adult stem cell therapy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 125(2), S336-S344.

Chhabra, P., & Brayman, K. L. (2013). Stem cell therapy to cure type 1 diabetes: from hype to hope. Stem Cells Transl Med, 2(5), 328-336.

Hocking, A. M., & Gibran, N. S. (2010). Mesenchymal stem cells: paracrine signaling and differentiation during cutaneous wound repair. Experimental cell research, 316(14), 2213-2219.

Holscher, C. (2010). Incretin analogues that have been developed to treat type 2 diabetes hold promise as a novel treatment strategy for Alzheimers disease. Recent patents on CNS drug discovery, 5(2), 109-117.

Jarajapu, Y. P., & Grant, M. B. (2010). The promise of cell-based therapies for diabetic complications challenges and solutions. Circulation research, 106(5), 854-869.

The word diabetes underscores a number of related diseases leading the body being unable to regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) in the human body blood. Diabetes is of three main types-type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. This paper focuses on diabetes type 1 and type 2, which are the most common types. People afflicted by diabetes type 1 lack the ability to produce enough insulin. Those affected by type 2 diabetes are unable to utilize insulin well.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced by pancreases, and permits the movement of glucose into body cells from the blood where it is broken down to release energy. When one is affected by diabetes, the movement of glucose is inefficient, making the levels of glucose in the blood high. As a result, various cells starve and some tissues may be harmed due to exposure to high levels of glucose. Ten percent of people that are affected by diabetes in the US have type 1 diabetes (Wild, et al., 2004, p.1048).

Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed either during adolescent or child hood. It may also result from destruction of pancreases by alcohol in older people. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed during adulthood (mostly above 45 years), and it accounts for 90% all diabetic people (Wild, et al., 2004, p.1049).

The causes of diabetes are valid. Diabetes type1 is essentially autoimmune. This means that it results when the immunity cells of the body attacks the insulin producing cells of the pancreases (Rother, 2007, p.1499).

Environmental factors such as viral infections coupled with hereditary factors may cause diabetes type 1, but genetic links are more associated with diabetes type 2. Other factors that cause diabetes type 2 include ethnicity, high amounts of alcohol intakes, overweight, large amounts of fat intakes, aging, sedentary life styles, and hypertension (high blood pressure) among other causes.

Symptom of diabetes type 1 includes Ketoacidosis; a condition evidenced by vomiting and nausea, and accompanied later by potassium levels disturbances in the body coupled with infections of urinary tract partly due to viral infections or injury. In case ketoacidosis goes untreated, it translates into a comma and finally death. The symptoms of diabetes type 2 include stress, steroids, and a syndrome called hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic (Saydah, et al., 2001, p.1398).

The symptoms that are common to both diabetes include blurred vision; infections such repeated yeast infections in genitals, skin, and urinary tract; wounds may heal poorly; alteration of mental status such as agitation, confusion, irritability, which cannot be explained and inattention among others, excessive thirst, excessive eating, fatigue, and large weight losses, which cannot be explained.

Diabetes is treated in a number of ways. People with diabetes type 1 are normally treated by the administration of insulin on a daily basis to sustain their life.

On the other hand, people with diabetes type 2 are treated through exercise, diet control, weight loss therapies or even administration of oral medications. However, as Rother posits,  more than half of all people with type 2 diabetes require insulin to control their blood sugar levels at some point in the course of their illness (2007, p.1500). As it is today, there exists no known cure for diabetes type 1 and 2.

A lot of intensive research is been undertaken to seek a cure for diabetes, but challenges exist since diabetes is genetic. However, over the last couple of years scientists have discovered about 2000 genes responsible to an equal number of genetic defects. It is thus probable that they will be able to replace the defective gene causing diabetes with a healthy one in the future.

References

Rother, K. (2007). Diabetes TreatmentBridging the Divide. The New England Journal of Medicine, 356(15), 14991501.

Saydah, S., Miret, M., Sung, J., Varas, C., Gause, D., & Brancati, F. (2001). Post challenge Hyperglycemia and Mortality in a National Sample of U.S. Adults. Diabetes Care, 24(8), 13971402.

Wild, S., Green, A., Sicree, R., & King, H. (2004). Global Prevalence of Diabetes: Estimates for the Year 2000 and Projections for 2030. Diabetes Care, 27(5), 10471053.

Introduction

As a company that deals in the provision of diabetes supplies to the general public, Salehiya Medical can be described as an institution that is well poised to assist the general public when it comes to its expertise in the field of diabetes treatment and detection. This is an important factor to consider since its home market, Saudi Arabia has one of the highest diabetes prevalence rates in the world. Studies such as those by Alhumaidi, Agha & Dewish (2013) have indicated that within Riyadh alone adult males that are within the age range of 30-70 years have a diabetes prevalence rate of 23.7% with women having a similar rate at 26.2%. The rate seen among children was also shown to be at 14% with roughly 68 percent of the child population in Riyadh showing symptoms of diabetes when examined by the local health department (Alhumaidi, Agha & Dewish, 2013). What this shows is that within Riyadh, there is an endemic case of diabetes within the population which can start at a very young age and contributes to the relatively high rate of diabetes seen in the adult half of the population.

The Working Class and Diabetes

While the proliferation of cases of diabetes may seem like a good thing for Salehiya Medical since this means that more people will be buying the companys products, the inherent issue within Riyadh is that despite having a reputation for extravagance which can be seen through its various upscale malls, condominiums, and luxury cars, the fact remains that there has been little in the way of progress by the government in helping working-class citizens elevate the quality of life that they are currently experiencing. Within the context of diabetes treatment and detection, this means that the poor in the country do not know whether they have diabetes or not and also lack the means to be able to pay for proper testing and long term treatment options (Habeb, Al-Magamsi, Eid, Ali, Hattersley Hussain & Ellard, 2012).

As explained by Alhowaish (2013), the money that is earned by the working class of society often goes towards survival with allocations towards medical expenses, often being their lowest priority. The result of such a condition is the continued untreated progression of certain sicknesses which, more often than not, causes a member of the urban working class to die (Alhowaish, 2013). It is based on this that alternatives need to be implemented within the context of diabetes treatment and detection in Riyadh to prevent needless deaths.

Preventing the Proliferation of Diabetes

As mentioned earlier, since Salehiya Medical is well poised to be able to provide the necessary medical and technical expertise to address such an issue, the company should attempt some means of providing a positive contribution towards the local community in Riyadh. The problem though is that proper diabetes testing and implementing treatment procedures is incredibly expensive due to the necessity of insulin shots along with the fees associated with hiring medical personnel for checkups. Since 23.7% of men and 26.2% of women have been noted as having diabetes in Riyadh, with a vast majority of them belonging to the urban working class, it becomes immediately obvious that Salehiya Medical simply does not have the resources to be able to treat them all or provide the care they need. Diabetes is a life long illness that requires constant vigilance and medical treatment and, as such, the company cannot give out treatments for free simply because people cannot afford it (Al-Rubeaan, Youssef & Subhani, 2014). Alternative methods of preventing the proliferation of diabetes within Riyadh need to be developed that are both economically feasible and effective.

Proposed Plan for Resolving the Issue

The proposed plan for addressing this issue comes in the form of Salehiya Medical funding a localized information campaign within Riyadh to make people more aware about diabetes, its symptoms and how many people within the city have the condition. Through an information campaign and then sponsoring various non-government organizations to help tackle the issue, this strategy should help in addressing the issue of diabetes without costing the company significant amounts of money. The best method of resolving this issue is not to target diabetes directly since there is no way for the company to examine every single person in Riyadh to check whether they have diabetes or not, rather, a more effective method would be to discourage the consumption of food that leads to developing diabetes and targeting children within the local schools in the country (Hashim, Yasser & Khatib, 2013). One way in which this can be accomplished is by encouraging the development of new legislation that focuses on informing children regarding the dangers certain types of food could have towards their long term health. With its medical expertise on the subject, Salehiya Medical would be able to create an effective strategic plan to determine what types of food children should be discouraged to eat in large amounts.

Justification for the Proposed Plan

Information campaigns have always been a way in which governments have controlled the consumption of particular types of food products that are considered bad for the public. For example, government-sponsored information campaigns that discourage the consumption of tobacco and alcohol are common in many countries. Through an enacted policy that focuses on discouraging the consumption of food identified as being the cause of diabetes, this would help to limit their consumption, which would result in fewer cases of diabetes in the future. The advantage of this plan as compared to possible alternatives is easy to see when taking into consideration the fact that the parents do care about the future of their children.

By being more informed about the dangers consumption of certain types of food have on the health of their kids; it is likely that they would prevent their children from eating those types of products in large amounts. On the other hand, it should also be taken into consideration that there would obviously be a backlash from the various companies in Riyadh that produce and sell products that lead to a person developing diabetes, however, the fact remains that should such a government policy be put into effect, the rate of diabetes would definitely decrease and this could save thousands of lives in the process.

Conclusion

Based on what has been presented so far, it can clearly be stated that Salehiya Medical has a responsibility to the local community in Riyadh to make them more aware about the various issues related to diabetes and help to institute policies to help the government address such an issue. As such, if Saudi Arabia is to resolve the problem of diabetes, the country needs to put in place the proper programs to help the rural poor and prevent the proliferation of the illness within the country.

Reference List

Alhowaish, A. K. (2013). Economic costs of diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Journal Of Family & Community Medicine, 20(1), 1-7.

Alhumaidi, M., Agha, A., & Dewish, M. (2013). Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in Southern Region of Saudi Arabia. Maedica  A Journal Of Clinical Medicine, 8(3), 231-236.

Al-Rubeaan, K., Youssef, A. M., & Subhani, S. N., (2014). Diabetic Nephropathy and Its Risk Factors in a Society with a Type 2 Diabetes Epidemic: A Saudi National Diabetes Registry-Based Study. Plos ONE, 9(2), 1-9.

Habeb, A., Al-Magamsi, M., Eid, I., Ali, M., Hattersley, A., Hussain, K., & Ellard, S. (2012). Incidence, genetics, and clinical phenotype of permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus in northwest Saudi Arabia. Pediatric Diabetes, 13(6), 499- 505.

Hashim, F., Yasser, M., & Khatib, O. (2013). Clinical experience with insulin detemir, biphasic insulin aspart and insulin aspart in people with type 2 diabetes: Results from the Eastern Saudi Arabia cohort of the A1chieve study. Indian Journal Of Endocrinology & Metabolism, 17(S2), S453-S457.

Introduction

It was a regular day. My dad and I were at Superdawg. We were eating our food then all of a sudden my dad started to hold his head in acute pain. It looked like he had a brain freeze, but he wasnt drinking or eating anything cold. I knew what was wrong, he needed sugar. I gave him some of my lemonade, but it did not help. My dads whole body was completely tense. It looked like he was cramping up and it would not go away. I now went to the register and asked the worker at the counter for some sugar. When I got it, I had to hand feed it to my dad because he could not move. Eventually, he finally was able to move and comprehend what was going on. My dad has diabetes Type 1. He has had it since he was 31 years old and will have it for the rest of his life unless a cure is found.

Diabetes: Investigating a Disease

Diabetes is a serious metabolic disease that leads to the hindrance to the production of insulin in the body. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is responsible for controlling blood sugar. Insulin accomplishes this task by breaking down glucose in the body. Therefore, the absence of insulin in the body allows a dangerous build-up of sugar in the body which, if unchecked, is fatal (Diabetes, par. 1). Generally, diabetes is often manifested through frequent urination, unusual hunger, strange weight loss, and extreme fatigue, and irritability (Diabetes, par. 4). Type 1 diabetes is characterized by frequent infections, blurred vision, slow-healing cuts and bruises, and frequent numbness in hands and feet (Diabetes, par. 4).

There are three types of diabetes; type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is caused by insulin deficiency in the body. The insulin deficiency is brought about by the loss of the insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is further dichotomized as immune-mediated or idiopathic. Most cases of type 1 diabetes are of the former category, in which the beta cell loss is T cell-mediated autoimmune attack (Rother, p. 1500).

Doctors are yet to determine preventive measures against Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes was traditionally associated with children but is now common among adult populations as well. Most victims lead healthy and normal lives as their response to insulin injections are usually normal, particularly in the early stages.

The second type of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes. In this case, the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells in the body fail to recognize the produced insulin. If the diabetic patient only produces a little insulin, then that patient can sometimes control the disease with proper exercise and healthy eating habits. Some Type 2 diabetics do not need to inject insulin into their bodies. Whereas type 1diabetes is common among Americans and Europeans, type 2 diabetes is prevalent in African-Americans, Native Americans, and Asians (Type 2, par. 1).

The third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. This type goes away after pregnancy but requires proper medical attention during this period (Lawrence et al., p. 900). It has been noted that about 20% to 50% of women affected by Gestational diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes later in life (Lawrence et al., p. 902).

Gestational diabetes is temporary, but if untreated may harm the fetus or the mother. It interferes with the normal development of the fetus may hamper normal delivery of the affected baby; hence the need for cesarean section (Lawrence et al., p. 904).

It is worth noting that some minor categories of diabetes have been identified as well. One such type is pre-diabetes characterized by slightly high blood sugar that cannot be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. It is, therefore, considered a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

There is also the latent autoimmune diabetes that afflicts the adult population. This is a condition that leads to the development of type 1 diabetes. Latent autoimmune diabetes is usually confused, in its initial stages, with type 2 diabetes. There are various causes of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is partly inherited although the Coxsackie B4 virus has been identified as a possible contributor. Type 2 diabetes is attributed to lifestyle and genetic factors. Genetic defects are manifested in beta cell functions, mitochondrial DNA mutations, and insulin processing (Rother, p.1500). Insulin action may experience defects in pro-insulin conversion, insulin gene mutations, and insulin receptor mutations (Rother, p.1500).

Another causal agent of diabetes is exocrine pancreatic defects such as chronic pancreatitis, pancreatectomy, pancreatic neoplasia, cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis, and fibrocalculous pancreatopathy (Rother, p.1500). Other causes include endocrinopathy, infections, and the use of some prescription drugs.

Several diagnostic procedures are available for the diagnosis of diabetes. First, urine tests can be conducted to check the blood sugar level in the body. If it is higher than 200 mg/dl then there is a good chance of diabetes. The second approach is to take a blood test. The three blood tests that are done are; fasting blood glucose level, Hemoglobin A1c test, and the oral glucose tolerance test (Diabetes, par. 5).

Once a person is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, they have to cope with it for the rest of their life because there is no cure. Diabetes can be managed through regular insulin injections. However, it may be hard to know how much insulin is required by the body. Diabetics will usually need to check their blood pressure and put in a certain amount of insulin to have normal blood sugar levels. If a person puts in too much insulin, then the person can suffer a diabetic shock.

A diabetic shock occurs when the persons blood sugar levels are really low. If the person is not given some sugar immediately, they will go into a coma or die. The rapid change of high and low blood sugar can cause a lot of damage to the body. Insulin is supposed to be absorbed by the body slowly throughout the day. Diabetics have to inject themselves three times a day, but this is still putting too much insulin at one time.

There are several dangers associated with diabetes. First, diabetes may lead to heart diseases. Diabetic adults are two to four times more likely to die of heart disease than regular adults (Jost, p. 188). The risk of stroke is two to four times as likely. Sixty to sixty-five percent of diabetics have high blood pressure. Secondly, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness between 20 and 74-year-olds. Thirdly, two-thirds of diabetics have nervous system problems. Diabetes is also the leading cause of lower amputations (Jost, 194).

Diabetes Type 1 is hereditary and cannot be prevented. Type 2 is, however, prevented by healthy eating and exercising normally. For a diabetic, it is also important to have a good diet and a healthy lifestyle because that will reduce the risk of amputations and blindness. The more a diabetic can control their blood sugar levels, the less at risk they are for all the damaging factors that come along with diabetes.

However, the control of diabetics is hampered by some challenges. For instance, Gregg Gierke, a diabetic for 21 years, explains how difficult it is to control and manage diabetes: I have low blood sugar two to three times every day. The brain isnt able to function with low sugar. Then, I eat sweets with lots of sugar so I can function. This makes my blood sugar high, which causes me to become tired. It is very difficult to keep blood sugar in a safe range.

Over time, there have been new ways to control diabetes. Before 1921, there was no way of controlling diabetes. This made the disease fatal. In 1921, Banting and Best came up with a substance that regulated blood sugar levels, which was called insulin. Consequently, they were honored for their discovery with the Nobel Prize. At first, when people tried to use the insulin it was not effective. This was because they were using insulin from pigs and cows, which created immune problems for humans. So, the gene for human insulin was cloned and this was achieved in 1971.

Diabetes in the past has usually been controlled by taking a shot of insulin using a needle and a syringe. This is a mediocre way of controlling diabetes. The newest way of controlling diabetes is the insulin pump. The pump is made up of a pump reservoir, a battery-operated pump, and a computer chip that allows the user to control the exact amount of insulin being pumped into the body. This pump gives the diabetic continuous amounts of insulin instead of a lot of insulin at one time. Over 50,000 diabetics worldwide now use the pump (Mathur, par. 9). The next step for the pump is to get a reading of the persons blood sugar level instead of having the patient prick their fingers. Tests are being done to see if insulin can eventually be inhaled (Mathur, par. 11). But for now, patients have to do with the pump.

Conclusion

Currently, many foundations are trying to help and find a cure for diabetes. One of them is the JDRF foundation. JDRF was found in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes. JDRF has funded more than 1.5 billion dollars in research. In 2010, they donated $107 million for Type 1 diabetes research (JDRF, section 1). The goal of JDRF is to stop type 1 diabetes, reverse diabetes, prevent diabetes, and improves the treatment of type 1 diabetes, and to have tighter glucose control (JDRF, section 1). JDRF is one of the leading foundations today to help stop and prevent diabetes. In early October, they had a walk to cure diabetes, which was very successful.

With this comprehensive information, I conclude by stating that diabetes is a deadly disease. If not controlled properly it can lead to serious side-effects. It is important to eat healthily and exercise to prevent diabetes. Foundations are leading the way to try to come up with a cure. If a cure is eventually found, it will change the lives of millions of diabetics across the world. This vastly improves the quality of healthcare.

Works Cited

Diabetes. PubMed Health. PubMed Health, n.d. Web.

Gierke, Gregg. Personal Interview. 2011.

Jost, Kenneth. Diabetes Epidemic. CQ Researcher, 11 (2001): 185-200. Web.

JDRF. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. n.p., 2011.

Lawrence Jean M. et al. Trends in the Prevalence of Preexisting Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Among a Racially/ethnically Diverse Population of Pregnant women, 19992005. Diabetes Care 31.5 (2008): 899904.

Mathur, Ruchi. Insulin Therapy for Diabetes Past, Present, and Future. MedicineNet. n.p., n.d. Web.

Rother, Kristina I. Diabetes TreatmentBridging the Divide. The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 356.15 (2007): 1499501. Print.

Type 2. American Diabetics Association. American Diabetes Association, n.d. Web.

SWOT Analysis

The program aimed at raising awareness of people on diabetes can have a significant impact on the healthcare system as well as the health situation in the USA. One of the major strengths of the program will be a decrease in the development of the disorder as people will be able to pay close attention to their lifestyle, their health, and possible symptoms (Johnson, 2012). There are some programs and websites providing information on the problem but they are still inconsistent and a far-reaching program with significant media coverage may have a positive effect.

Notably, the US government is paying more attention to the problem and allocates funds to similar educational incentives (Shi & Johnson, 2014). People also seem to pay more attention to the issue. Finally, researchers have discovered new ways of treatment, diagnosing, and prevention of the disorder.

At the same time, there are threats and weaknesses. However, they can be mitigated. The program requires allocation of funds but this should not be a burden for the federal or state budget as additional funds may be received from numerous charities. It is essential to obtain the necessary media coverage and the Internet (especially social networks) may help do that as the issue excessively discussed on the Internet eventually appears in media. Social networks will also help draw young peoples attention as they are major networks users.

SWOT Analysis and Strategic Planning

SWOT analysis can be used as a starting point of strategic planning for a health administrator. SWOT analysis reveals the basic challenges and opportunities of any project. This type of analysis is rather brief but very precise and comprehensive. It can help come up with an efficient strategy to implement a project.

First, strategic planning is impossible without a SWOT analysis. Strategic planning presupposes the use of strengths of the project and the ability to predict challenges as well as ways to overcome them (Bauer, 2014). SWOT analysis enables administrators to unveil possible challenges (internal as well as external). This is important for the development of tools to address the issues that are likely to arise or prevent problems from occurring.

As has been mentioned above, the SWOT analysis is a starting point of any strategic planning and it is also a basis and an effective checking point during the process of decision-making. An administrator may use the SWOT analysis to make a decision especially when it comes to changes in the project. Clearly, each project should be flexible as new circumstances appear and the administrator has to be ready to respond (Merlino, Omi & Bowen, 2013). A proper SWOT analysis often contains the vast majority of challenges to be addressed and this helps administrators develop the necessary responses to arising issues.

Finally, SWOT analysis also helps allocate funds more effectively. The administrator can allocate funds to facilitate the strengths of the program and mitigate certain weaknesses. The administrator can also effectively allocate funds to address the issues that are likely to arise during the implementation of the project. Hence, it is possible to conclude that a proper SWOT analysis is crucial for efficient strategic planning.

Administrator Interview Synopsis

A Summary of the Interview

The administrator interviewed works for quite a small organization. She reports that they have come up with a strategic plan for five years. This is quite a detailed plan with identified goals and terms. There are a number of major goals and several intermediate ones. The plan includes fund allocation that is quite preliminary and rather flexible. It is noteworthy that the plan includes people responsible for certain minor projects and the achievement of goals. Those are not names of particular people but posts and teams/departments.

The interviewee believes that strategic planning is of paramount importance for any organization and the pressure is quite high. The process is very challenging and it needs the involvement of all employees. The interviewee stresses that they do not have enough funds to hire an effective strategic planner from outside. Hence, they have to come up with the plan using their resources and experience. The head of the organization is responsible for the development of the plan, which is compiled after numerous discussions and meetings.

The interviewee stresses that SWOT analysis is often a basis of the plan as it includes major points. The analysis is held during a meeting where employees come up with ideas. Employees also complete certain research and provide insights on possible goals for the next five years, challenges, and ways to address them. The most challenging part for the interviewee and his colleagues, as reported, is making decisions on major and intermediate goals and potential challenges.

Synopsis

As has been mentioned above, strategic planning is a complex process that needs effective decision-making. Clearly, during the development of this plan, many goals and challenges may seem important but it is important to evaluate the relevance of each goal and each issue (Bauer, 2014).

Effective decision-making is especially important when it comes to resource allocation. Reaching every goal presupposes certain expenditure and it is essential to make sure that a sufficient amount of funds is allocated to achieve this or that goal. The modern world is highly competitive and companies cannot afford to spend too many resources. When it comes to the sphere of public health, tension is increasing as healthcare often lacks sufficient financial support. Hence, resources have to be allocated wisely and efficiently.

It is important to make sure that funds will cover the achievement of the necessary goals and there are enough resources to address challenges that are likely to arise. It is important to prioritize and make sure that relevant processes can be implemented effectively and on time. It is also necessary to remember about possible risks and problems that can occur. There should be a reserve where additional resources can be found if necessary.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is necessary to note that effective decision-making is crucial for strategic planning when it comes to resource allocation. It can ensure the effectiveness of the plan and the success of the organization in reaching its goals. Of course, this increases the competitiveness of the organization as well. Companies have to pay specific attention to funds allocation and remember that the plan should be flexible as well as resource distribution. It is always important to remember that some additional challenges may occur and resources may be required to address these issues.

Reference List

Bauer, J.C. (2014). Paradox and imperatives in health care: Redirecting reform for efficiency and effectiveness. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Johnson, T.D. (2012). Prevention and public health fund paying off in communities: Success threatened by cuts to fund. The Nations Health, 42(6), 1-31.

Merlino, J., Omi, J., & Bowen, J. (2013). Lean behavioral health: The Kings county hospital story. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Shi, L., & Johnson, J.A. (2014). Novick and Morrows public health administration: Principles for population-based management. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.