Category: Diabetes

Abstract

Healthy People 2020 standards are significant in tracking progress of several heath indicators in a community with the primary aim of improving the state of health within a population of concern. For instance, access to health services as an indicator is instrumental in comparing the standards to the previous standards to track any improvements in line with the measures, objectives and goals of the standardized assessment in terms of health care sustainability. This paper will carry out assessment and diagnosis of diabetes as a health concern within the Prince Georges County among the Hispanic community. The assessment will be based on access to health services as the Healthy People 2020 indicator.

Geographical area

Hispanic community is located within the neighborhoods of Beltsville and Langley Park within the Prince Georges County. The Prince Georges County falls within the state of Maryland (United States Census Bureau, 2010).

Area size

The Prince Georges County boarders Charles County to the south and Howard County to the north and covers an area of 1,290 square kilometers which is an equivalent of 499 square miles (United States Census Bureau, 2010).

Population size

As indicated in the results of the 2010 United States Census, the Prince Georges County hosts a population of 863,420. The City of Lauderdale has a predominant population of the African American, Hispanic, and the Native American descents (United States Census Bureau, 2010).

Hispanic Demographics

The Hispanics in the Prince Georges County comprise of 123,062 persons which represents 14.9% of the entire population. The females are 50.2% of the population. On age distribution, persons below 6 years represent 6.8%, 6-19 years represent 14.5%, 20-64 years represent 69.6%, and those above 64 years represent 9.1% of the total population. The infant mortality rates stand at 4.5 deaths per a thousand live births. This is a registered decrease from 6.4 deaths per a thousand live births in 2000 to the current 4.5 deaths per thousand live births. The death rate per 100,000 of the population stands at 18.27 as at 2010. The average life span of the population stands at 48 years (United States Census Bureau, 2010).

Overview of the diabetes problem

Physical and social environment

There are several community health programs run by organizations within this community. The community is conscious of their health, birth control, healthy eating and living habits, and adaptation of preventive health policies. The major health services offered are relatively affordable hospital and clinical treatment, free TB, and HIV centers, free post illness recovery support, and mobile clinics. Reflectively, the government of the United States finances most of the healthcare services (Duckett, 2010). These services have been subsidized and are relatively affordable by the members this community. However, the majority of the members of the Hispanic community prefer visiting these health facilities when very sick since they cannot afford regular medical checkups.

The health disparities: Diabetes as a health concern

In the last five years, the morbidity rates for diabetes within the Hispanic population have been on the rise. For instance, the incidence rate for diabetes has risen from 22 per 1000 per year in 2004 to 28 per 1000 per year in 2010. However, the prevalence rate has decreased from 20 per 1000 per year in 2004 to the present 18 per 1000 per year in 2010. The mortality rate for diabetes has increased from 32 per 100,000 to 48 per 100,000 from 2004 to 2010. As indicated in the government data, 69.9 percent of the diabetic population is enlisted in the affordable diabetes preventive health care services (United States Census Bureau, 2010).

Population of interest affected by diabetes

The Hispanic community in the Prince Georges County is spread unevenly. The Prince Georges County boasts of extensive settlement with each cultural group occupying different estates. Specifically, the Hispanic community occupies the neighborhoods of Beltsville and Langley Park. The population density of the City of Lauderdale is 8,831 per square mile. The average house unit density is 6,180 per square mile. There are 14,000 households occupied by the Hispanics within this county. The average size of each household size is 2.8 (United States Census Bureau, 2010).

The main language spoken by this community is English and Spanish. However, some members speak French and German besides English. Due to poverty level of 20%, the average income is at $3000 per month. The household income is $32,135 while median income per family is $36,188. Per capita income is $16,775. On an average, the community literacy level is 80%. Besides, those with collage education account for 35% of the population. Seventy percent of the members of this community are Christians while 20 percent Muslims (United States Census Bureau, 2010).

Since the majority of this population is relatively poor, they cannot afford constant health checkups and would only prefer the treatment based healthcare alternative when sick. The majority of the population has not embraced the preventive health care practices characterized by visiting the hospitals for checkups even when not feeling sick. As a result of the treatment culture in seeking healthcare services, cases of diabetes are detected at advanced stages and little can be done to help this group (Allan, Ball, & Alston, 2007).

Poor income is a serious impediment towards treating diabetes and other ailments. Specifically, the average income is at $3000 per month which is very low. As a result, healthy living through proper dieting and canceling is largely above the reach of this group. The incidence rate for diabetes has risen from 22 per 1000 per year in 2004 to 28 per 1000 per year in 2010 (United States Census Bureau, 2010). This explains the rising trend in new cases of diabetes reported within this population.

Diagnosis

Epidemiological perspective views health services as insignificant in examining health status on the parameters of lifestyle, social, and economic factors. It dwells on the cause of a disease and care outcome. Basically, occurrence of disease distribution is edged on demographic variables. Within the Hispanic community, little has been done by the locally initiated home-based diabetes prevention and treatment healthcare policy in addressing this health concern on this perspective (Fielding & Briss 2006).

Economic perspective examines health service determinants such as expenditure, financial, and mobilizing funds for these services. Efficiency maximization is the foundation of this dominant model. The main types of efficiencies identified in this policy include the locative and technical efficiency. Therefore, this perspective aims at providing value for every monetary unit spent in healthcare provision. This monitors compliance to targets and rates (Olson, Susan, Marjorie, & Betty, 2009). A lot needs to be done towards accelerating alternatives in allocating service fee payment that may facilitate the provision of diabetes treatment and prevention services.

This should be executed within the parameters of affordability and efficiency for the Hispanic community within the Prince Georges County. There is an urgent need to improve the extended Medicare safety net to facilitate the management of Medicare for diabetes patients and their families who are equally affected. This is not the case at the Prince Georges County where little or no support is given to the affected persons taking care of the diabetes patients (United States Census Bureau, 2010).

Social justice program and rationale

From the above assessment, it is apparent that cases of diabetes have been on the rise in the recent years due to health care inaccessibility and ignorance on the side of the members of the Hispanic community. Reflectively, performance indicators in home based diabetes care are a means of fast tracking goal achievement, understanding the position of the diabetes policy in performance ladder, and allocating percentages as desired by the initiatives put in place.

Performance plays a role in determining success, sustainability, and relevance within a competitive edge in managing diabetes within the Hispanic community. There is need to develop a three-phased support system for the diabetic persons within this community. Due to low household income, there is need to incorporate financial, social, and preventive support to the community within volunteer and counter-prevention programs (Chisholm & Evans, 2007).

Watson’s theory of human caring reviews the necessary external elements that determine the success of human caring. The main components of the theory are nurse preparation, caring processes, and the traspersonal caring relationship. In order to achieve proper results, there is need to balance a mixture of quality, innovation, and services in social justice model. This will go a long way in managing diabetes as a health concern within the Hispanic community in the Prince Georges County.

References

Allan, J., Ball, P., & Alston, M. (2007). Developing sustainable models of rural health care: a community development approach. Rural and Remote Health, 7(5), 818- 819.

Chisholm, D., & Evans, D. (2007). Economic evaluation in health: saving money or improving care? Journal of Medical Economics, 10(1), 325-337.

Duckett, S. (2010). Governance and Relationships: Systems, Incentives and Polarities. Perth: National Congress.

Fielding, J. & Briss, P. (2006). Promoting Evidence-Based Public Health Policy: Can We Have Better Evidence And More Action? Health affairs, 25(4), 969-978.

Olson K., Susan, S., Betty, L., & Marjorie, S. (2009). Population-Based Public Health Interventions: Practice-Based and Evidence Supported. Public Health Nursing, 21(3), 453-468.

United States Census Bureau. (2010). Prince Georges County, Maryland, U.S, 2010. Web.

Summary

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a condition that affects insulin secretion and blood sugar. The metabolic disorder is caused by chronic hyperglycemia, which affects different body nutrients (American Diabetes Association, 2011). As a result, the body suffers from organ dysfunction, damage, and system failure. The characteristics and symptoms of diabetes mellitus include loss of vision, weight loss, and thirst (Bray, 2008).

Extreme cases of metabolic disorder cause ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar. However, the symptoms of diabetes mellitus vary with patients. Some patients may experience blindness, renal failure, foot ulcers, and fractured joints. The predisposing factors of diabetes mellitus include family history, environmental factors, immune damage, dietary factors, weight, age, gestational diabetes, ovary syndrome, blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol.

The risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus are influenced by metabolic disorders. Infection, illness, pancreas disease, and genetics are some predisposing factors that affect type 1 diabetes. However, clinical predisposing factors of diabetes mellitus include genetic susceptibility, autoimmune destruction, environmental factors, feeding practices, viruses, obesity, physical inactivity, and infections. Finally, we will discuss potential legal issues and evidence-based practice that relate to diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that affects the blood sugar level in the body. The metabolic disease is caused by inadequate, or insulin absence in the pancreas. As a result, the patient may experience polyphagia and polar symptoms. The classification of diabetes includes type 1, 2, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Gestational diabetes, which affects pregnant women, is another type of diabetes mellitus. Clinicians revealed the influence of cystic fibrosis and genetic defects on the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. The complications of diabetes mellitus include cardiovascular diseases, renal failure, and brain damage.

Classification of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a common term for metabolic disorders. However, a broad classification supports precise treatment and health interventions. Diabetes mellitus can be classified into four groups. The groups include diabetes mellitus type 1, diabetes mellitus type 2, gestational diabetes, and other types. Limited insulin levels in the pancreas influence diabetes mellitus type 1. The metabolic disorder affects adults and children (Kahn & Gale, 2010). The body’s resistance to insulin influences DM type 2. As a result, the insulin receptor stimulates a defective body response. Gestational diabetes is a combination of factors that affect pregnant women. However, gestational diabetes can be treated with proper medical supervision.

Pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus

Insulin secretion influences the regulation of blood sugar. However, insulin receptors stimulate defective responses and organ failure (Huether & McCcance, 2012). The body converts food nutrients to simple sugars for energy release. As a result, glucose is released into the blood for energy activation (McPhee & Hammer, 2012). Consequently, insulin receptor absorbs and controls glucose levels. The high and low threshold causes insulin deficiency. As a result, the osmotic pressure increases beyond hormonal control. Thus, the patient will experience thirst, and excessive urine production (American Diabetes Association, 2011).

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus

The symptoms of diabetes mellitus vary across patients. Some patients experience weight loss, hunger, excessive urine, and dehydration. The pathophysiology of the metabolic disorder influences the clinical signs and symptoms of the client. However, long-term symptoms may arise from severe complications in the body threshold.

Relationship between diabetes mellitus and HFSON conceptual framework

The features of the HFSON conceptual framework include client, nurse, environment, and health intervention system. However, the conceptual framework was adapted from Levine’s conservation principles. Thus, the objective of the conservation model promotes nursing practice and response. Consequently, nursing goals can be improved using HFSON conceptual framework. Thus, the HFSON conceptual framework is based on the community, family, and the individual.

The integration of each component supports learning and nursing practice. Consequently, evidence-based treatment improves patient health and wholeness. The HFSON conceptual framework believes that a client’s wholeness is achieved through collaborative efforts. As a result, each component of the HFSON conceptual framework develops its features and structures. Thus, good health is the inherent capacity to collaborate with the components of the conceptual framework. As a result, the integration of the environment, personal, social, and cultural landscape promotes health.

The components of the nursing paradigm include person, environment, adaptation, and orgasmic response. However, the environment is divided into external and internal components. Homeostasis describes the clients, conservation, and psychological factors. Homeorrhesis describes the environmental change, adaptations, and stabilization. The features of the conceptual framework include tradition, norms, beliefs, social values, ethnic systems, language, and ideas. The operational dimension includes pollution and radioactivity. Organismic response describes the client’s behavior and social integrity.

The organismic response is divided into the flight, inflammation, stress, and perceptual framework. Thus, the conceptual framework provides an environment for interaction. As a result, nurses and health professionals can nurture and stabilize the patient’s sugar level using health care interventions. Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus can live a healthy life if their sugar level is stabilized (The DCCT Research Group, 2010).

As a result, client evaluation improves blood sugar management. Long-term complications can be eliminated using evidence-based practice. Thus, pharmacogenomics can be used to administer an appropriate insulin level to promote health. The framework relates to the client’s awareness and preventive measures for sustained health care. Finally, proper documentation and audit of healthcare records can improve nursing practice and healthcare intervention.

The importance of nursing practice roles

Health care intervention plan is influenced by nursing practice and evidence-based research. As a result, quality health care delivery depends on competence and relevance. The combination of each component improves the health of the patient (Marquis & Hutson, 2010). We will analyze two nursing roles that relate to diabetes mellitus.

• Clinician: Clinical reasoning is a conceptual framework that supports data diagnosis, treatment, nursing practice, and problem resolution (Drummond, 2007). Healthcare providers in inpatient care are called clinicians. Thus, clinicians describe and formulate health care interventions using evidence-based practice. As a result, nursing roles can improve the quality of life. The capacity to regulate blood sugar describes the role of a clinician. The effective control of blood sugar improves the body’s repair mechanism. Thus, clinicians regulate, observe, control, moderate, and improve the client’s health status using appropriate interventions.
• Educator: Nursing educators combine experience and interactive skills to improve a patient’s recovery pattern. Consequently, nursing educators combine evidence-based practice with health intervention techniques to influence the client’s environment. Educators utilize various health care reforms to improve the client’s wellbeing (The DCCT Research Group, 2010). As a result, nursing educators can reduce the cost of health care intervention programs using conservative management techniques.

Legal issues that relate to diabetes mellitus

The treatment of diabetes mellitus is based on the appropriate level of insulin. As a result, the pharmacogenetics of insulin usage causes adverse effects for the client. Thus, legal issues that relate to diabetes include proper patient education before amputation, glucose level control, x-ray complication, consultation delay, patient education, signs, and symptoms. Failures to recognize, identify, control, obtain, and inform patients relating to the management of the disorder may cause litigations. Consequently, lack of care during foot amputation may support legal issues against the organization. A previous survey revealed that failure to debride ulcer patients influenced litigation.

Insulin administration has significant effects on hypoglycemia levels. Thus, treatment and health intervention practice must be carefully managed to suit the individual, client, and community. As a result, insulin management and awareness enhance the control and regulation of blood sugar.

Evidence-based practice that relates to diabetes mellitus

Evidence-based practice can be used to improve clients’ health. Consequently, systematic documentation of complex health interventions facilitates nursing practice. As a result, evidence-based practice controls insulin secretion and blood sugar (Phadke & Bagirath, 2012). The modified factors that affect the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus can be managed to improve health. Thus, diet regulation, individual management, patient’s activity, stress management, weight loss, and gain can be controlled using evidence-based practice (Dyson, 2008). Finally, the patient’s history and drug administration improve the client’s environment.

Conclusions

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that affects the blood sugar of the client. The pathophysiology of the disorder varies with individuals. Consequently, the HFSON framework can be used to improve the quality of life. The HFSON conceptual framework focuses on the client. As a result, the environment affects the health status of the individual. Consequently, nursing practice controls the sugar level of the client. Finally, evidence-based practice can be used to improve insulin administration in diabetic patients.

References

American Diabetes Association. (2011). Diabetes statistics. Web.

Bray, G. (2008). Lifestyle and pharmacological approaches to weight loss: Efficacy and safety. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 93(1), S81–S88.

Drummond, S. (2007). Obesity: A diet that is acceptable is more likely to succeed. J Fam Health Care, 17(2), 219–221.

Dyson, P. (2008). A review of low and reduced carbohydrate diets and weight loss in type 2 diabetes. J Hum Nutr Diet, 21(1), 530–538.

Huether, S. E., & McCcance, K. L. (2012). Understanding pathophysiology (Laureate custom ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. Web.

Kahn, R & Gale, E. (2010). Gridlocked guidelines for diabetes. Lancet, 375(1), 2203–2204.

Marquis, L. & Hutson, J. (2010). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Classical views of leadership and management. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Web.

McPhee, J., & Hammer, D. (2012). Pathophysiology of disease: An introduction to clinical medicine (Laureate custom ed.). New York, USA: McGraw-Hill Medical. Web.

Phadke, K. & Bagirath, A. (2012). Congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Indian J Nephrol, 11(3) 82-86. Web.

The DCCT Research Group. (2010). Nutrition interventions for intensive therapy in the diabetes control and complications trial. J Am Diet Assoc, 93(9), 768–772.

The objective(s) of the research

Mainly characterized by high blood sugar levels, diabetes mellitus is classified into two main categories based on the body’s response to insulin. Type I diabetes mellitus results from the inability of the pancreatic cells to produce insulin to break down glucose into glycogen, a form of stored energy in the liver and muscles. On the other hand, type II diabetes mellitus is caused by the failure of the liver and muscle cells to recognize the insulin produced by the pancreatic cells. With development of technology, several methods have been innovated to treat diabetes mellitus. One such method is autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation which was successfully used in the treatment of type I diabetes for the first time in 2007. However, its usage in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus is not well documented.

Relevance of the research question

It is this unexplored field that Lei Wang and fellow researchers from the Department of Endocrinology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology set out to illuminate. They carried out an objective study into the possible effects of combining autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation (BMT) and hyperbaric oxygen when used to treat type II diabetes mellitus. This study was relevant as it aimed at looking at alternative treatment for type II diabetes mellitus and clearing the air of uncertainty hanging around the use of autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.

Succinct summary of the results

After studying 31 type II diabetes mellitus patients for two years, Wang and his colleagues found out that hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values after BMT dropped significantly from 8.7% to 7.1% during follow-up. However, after the first 30 days after undergoing BMT, the values of HbA1c fluctuated by 0.5% for the next two years. C-peptide values after the combined therapy increased from P > 0.3 at other time points during follow-up to P < 0.0001 at 90 days time point when comparisons were drawn with baseline. Moreover, they noted that with this combined therapy, the dose of patients taking insulin and/or oral hypoglycemic drugs reduced significantly. Over a quarter (27%, that is 7) of the 26 patients on insulin had their doses reduced significantly after undergoing the combined therapy (Wang, L., Zhao, S., 2011).

Conclusion

Meaning of the results

After monitoring the 31 type II diabetes mellitus patients for two years and critically evaluating the results, Lei Wang and colleagues concluded that by combining autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation (BMT) with hyperbaric oxygen treatment, it was possible to reduce glucose levels by enhancing glucose control in the patients. Moreover, this combined therapy can also significantly reduce the dose of insulin and/or oral hypoglycemic drugs used by patients suffering insulin-resistance induced diabetes mellitus. However, their study revealed that this combined therapy improved the function of pancreatic β-cell for a short period of time (Wang, L., Zhao, S., 2011).

Future directions this research could take

This research into the combined use of intrapancreatic BMT and hyperbaric oxygen to treat type II diabetes can be furthered by expanding the sample size in the clinical trials. Moreover, more research should be done to determine the mechanism by which autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation (BMT) with hyperbaric oxygen work to improve glucose control and why this therapy has a transient effect on function of pancreatic β-cell.

Reference

Wang, L., Zhao, S., et al. (2011). Autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chin Med J (Engl), 124(22), 3622 – 8.

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is arguably the most prominent metabolic disorder. The effects of this condition can easily impact various functionalities within the human body. This health condition is often chronic and its most common characteristics include “hyperglycemia with long-term microvascular (retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) and macrovascular (cardiovascular) complications” (Castillo, Giachello & Arrom 2010). Diabetes mellitus comes in various forms but the general classification is Type One (DM1) and Type Two (DM2), with the latter accounting for almost ninety percent of all recorded cases. The gravity of the diabetes epidemic has necessitated the exploration of new ways of preventing and managing the disease. Consequently, health professionals and other stakeholders have put in place various measures of preventing diabetes.

The holistic prevention approach introduces an unconventional method of combating the diabetes menace. Wholeness or holistic science in the management of diabetes “is a system of preventive care that takes into account the whole individual, one’s own responsibility for one’s wellbeing, and the total influences…social psychological, environmental…that affect health, including nutritional, exercise and mental relaxation” (Castillo, Giachello & Arrom 2010). A holistic human image is one of the least explored tools of tackling diabetes in modern times. The holistic image of man refers to “the state in which a person is able to function well physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually in order to express the full range of one’s unique potentialities within the environment in which one is living” (Rydén, Grant & Anker 2013). The success of the holistic management of diabetes depends on several modifiable humanistic complications such as obesity, blood pressure, lack of physical activity, dyslipedemia, and smoking. There is also the issue of environmental factors in the course of diabetes management. Self-management of DM is subject to various environmental factors that contribute towards the formation of humanistic behaviors such as lifestyle patterns. Various holistic human images have been used in the DM prevention agenda but none in particular has found absolute favor over the others. This paper will use a review of various literatures with a view of establishing which humanistic images are most effective in the management of DM, and the environmental factors that support significant holistic DM self-management practices.

Literature Review

Historical Issues in Diabetes Prevention

In the course of history, the research on diabetes management has involved thousands of researchers from different fields of medicine and from all over the world. In recent years, researchers have managed to make various advances on how to ease, at least to a certain merit, life of people diagnosed with diabetes. Holistic medicine can be traced as far back as the Greek Civilization and the concept was first propagated by Hippocrates. Holistic approach to patient care in regards to diabetes prevention is only a few decades old and it has mostly relied on scientific discoveries. The use of humanistic images to manage diabetes has also relied on people’s ability to treat both symptoms and illnesses. On the other hand, throughout history humanistic images of the human person have been shaped by both religion and other secular views. The universal humanistic image depends on a person’s ability and willingness to participate in social responsibilities and ecological preservation efforts. The Christian image is consisted of a person’s ability to overcome basic instincts.

Risk Centric Behaviors

Most of the scholars who have covered DM’s holistic management agree that this approach is necessitated by DM’s evolutionary tactics (Rydén, Grant & Anker 2013). The initial management practices when dealing with the condition keep changing from time to time. This challenge incorporates a vital aspect of holistic learning. For instance, diabetes is associated with various other conditions such as obesity, lifestyle habits, and high blood pressure. The varied aspects of diabetes make holistic learning compatible with the prevention and management of the condition. Another study catalogs all the factors that contribute towards high/low cases of DM. These factors include: “obesity, low birth weight, ethnicity, family history, increasing age, physical inactivity, low-fiber diet, high-fat, urbanization, insulin resistance, hypertension, impaired glucose-regulation, and age” (Castillo, Giachello & Arrom 2010).

Evidence-based Lifestyle Strategies

There are several approaches to instituting behavior changes with the view of diabetes prevention. According to Satterfield and Volansky, “lifestyle modification requires behavior change, therefore, counseling is necessary…(and) should employ evidence-based behavior change techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing” (2012). This approach capitalizes on peoples’ desire to pursue good health by overcoming any personal barriers. For instance, a person can pursue self-management in diabetes by overcoming any impediments to change and prioritizing on risk factors, practicing self-efficacy, and increasing their confidence. Nevertheless, research indicates that success in self-management has to involve a certain level of environmental congruence and holistic human images. For example, in environments where family-ties are an important part of the social fabric, the holistic diabetes-management approach leans towards this angle.

Environmental factors are also significant to the holistic management of diabetes. According to a study that was carried out in India and Finland, it was clear that lifestyles that lean on environmental factors affect diabetes-intervention efforts. Diabetes is a complex condition and it has far-reaching impacts on an individual’s quality of life. Therefore, the ability to prevent the disease during its onset or in its early stages has a significant effect on the management of the disease. On the other hand, research has indicated that diabetes is a condition that is most effectively addressed in the community level. In the United States, researchers conducted a trial in which the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention and that of using a medical approach were compared (Castillo, Giachello & Arrom 2010). In this study, it was clear that lifestyle intervention provides better results when they are compared to medical-based interventions.

Humanistic Image of Man and Diabetes Prevention

The general humanistic image of a human being in medicine is especially important for people who are to manage their conditions, such as diabetes. In addition, the humanistic image of man focuses on the psychological and social aspects of overcoming the difficulties that are caused by a disease. In diabetes management, a holistic view calls for a re-evaluation of all the factors that are contained within a certain system-systems theory. Given the complexity of the factors that affect the psychological state of an individual, the implementation of the humanistic image for managing diabetes is only possible within the interdisciplinary approach that would involve other than just biological aspects. The objective of utilizing the humanistic image for those who are diagnosed with diabetes is to employ the various scientific branches that are concerned with studying a human body, mind, and practices, spiritual and socio-economic life. Most individuals use their constructions of humanistic images to adopt a holistic approach to diabetes management through the grounded theory of information packaging. Both Christian and universal humanistic images can be utilized in the formation of a holistic image.

Changes in lifestyle compliment and supplement metabolic methods of diabetes control. Furthermore, lifestyle changes also contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular ailments. A multicenter for research conducted a study that was “aimed at comparing the effects of intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) on the incidence of major cardiovascular events among individuals with T2DM” (Rydén, Grant & Anker 2013). The study found that in a period of within four years, controlled lifestyle intervention produced a significant less risk of cardiovascular illnesses, obesity, cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Lifestyle strategies have the capacity to achieve various goals in the holistic management of DM. Behavior and lifestyle changes produce a significant decrease in the cost of managing DM. This trend became obvious through the recorded results of a subgroup from a study that was analyzing the significance of diabetes prevention. According to the study, “lifestyle strategies, unlike pharmacotherapy, are not limited by side effects and tolerability” (Rydén, Grant & Anker 2013). Some human images can factor in various lifestyle strategies including changing appearances and moving away from traditions. One study found that in situations where one family member has committed him/herself to lifestyle changes the support of his/her family members increases the chances of successful diabetes management. The study also indicated that in some subcultures, pursuing non-medical interventions amounts to pretention or even sacrilege (Teixeira 2010). The researchers in this study conclude that the most effective behavior and lifestyle changes in management of DM include self-monitored diets, exercise and stress management.

Most research studies on the management of DM conclude that behavior change is important to the achievement of this goal. According to Teixeira, “a rational treatment approach to a disease, including T2DM, is based upon the understanding of basic psychological cues” (2010). This DM study basis its thesis on the fact that most of the individuals who suffer from DM2 recognize the importance of physical activities but they remain physically inactive. This study recommends patient counseling as one strategy that can unlock the ‘psychological block’ of most DM patients. The researcher reckons that stimulating behavioral change among DM patients can be achieved through counseling. The paper concludes by noting that “central to the success of motivational interviewing is willingness of physicians to spend a few minutes of a patient’s appointment listening to physical activity goals and providing appropriate feedback” (Satterfield & Volansky 2012).

Results

The literature review revealed various patterns in regards to the environmental factors and human images that apply to holistic DM management. As far as the lifestyle-related strategies are concerned, it is necessary to note that one of the most important facets of prevention effort is minimization of risk behaviors among the populous. It is essential to develop proper diets for people of different ages with the view of decreasing the risk of developing diabetes. Adjustment of risk behaviors can be in form of written guidelines or intervention programs. The issue of environment does not feature prominently in diabetes prevention although it is relevant to culture and human images. On the other hand, there is a close connection between DM and other chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.

Lifelong lifestyle changes are an important strategy in DM prevention. This strategy also requires to be combined with psychological counseling that is centered towards patients. Motivational interviews are often an effective method of increasing patient’s commitment to changes in lifestyles. It has been found that effective counseling has enabled people to adjust their lifestyles and improve their health conditions. The literature review also found out that lifestyle modifications are cost-effective although they often require significant funds to kick-start. Furthermore, unlike pharmacotherapy that addresses only one risk factor, lifestyle, and behavior modification approaches address numerous risk factors. In addition, review of literature indicates that these two strategies lead to considerable improvements in people’s health conditions and good diabetes management results in general.

The literature review indicated that the culture/family factor features prominently in the holistic management of DM. Individuals whose kin suffer from DM can help or slow down the efforts of diabetes management. This view was collaborated by various other studies that connected family image issues to diabetes management. One study indicated that diabetes management is set to benefit from ‘friendly’ cultural practices and human image issues. Lack of environmental support for various behavior changes was found to be a major stumbling block in the efforts to attain DM prevention and management.

The results also indicate a tendency to use training as one way of combating the diabetes pandemic because it focuses on both health professionals and the public interests. Currently, there are several organizations that focus on diabetes-centered training on primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The holistic human image has been a model of choice when pursuing diabetes training. This approach takes into consideration “all aspects of a patient’s needs, as it relates to health training” (Teixeira 2010). This training is also subject to cultural practices, the environment, and social the prevailing human image issues.

Discussion

Among modern medical scientists, the research of diabetes is one of the topics to be most focused on because it includes thousands of researchers in different fields of medicine from all over the world. In recent years, professionals have managed to achieve significant progress concerning “how to ease at least to a certain merit, the life of people diagnosed with diabetes” (Satterfield & Volansky 2012). Another significant advancement that has been made in the last couple of decades concerning people who suffer from terminal and chronic medical conditions is the implementation of the holistic medicine techniques that work from a point of ‘totality’. These approaches aim to find and apply the different ways of treatments that involve not only the biological aspects of human beings, but also other spheres of wellness including paying attention to the psychological, spiritual, mental, social, and emotional health of the patients (Teixeira 2010). Currently, there is a direct correlation between the general humanistic image of a human being in medicine and other factors such as culture, environment, religious practices, and body-image issues.

Studies have also indicated that it is especially important for people who are managing continuous medical conditions such as diabetes to adopt behavior changes because they focus on the psychological and social aspects of overcoming difficulties caused by a disease. Given the complexity of the factors that affect the psychological state of an individual, the implementation of the humanistic image for managing diabetes is only possible within the interdisciplinary approach that would involve other than just biological aspects, including social and economic nuances. The objective of formatting the humanistic image for those who are diagnosed with diabetes is to employ various scientific branches that are concerned with studying a human body, mind, practices, spiritual and socio-economic life, to ensure the effective functioning of those individuals on all the levels, rather than just treating the symptoms. The psychological and social comfort not only provides the ground for more self-awareness but it also ensures that those individuals are not left out of the workplaces and social/cultural circles. Consequently, this approach as a system is beneficial to the entire society since it involves the inclusion of all its members.

Contemporary diabetes treatment is related to dietary and lifestyle self-management. In this context, it is clear that the complex humanistic approach is directed to the wider range of issues that are concerned with diabetes. Furthermore, at the management stage diabetes cannot be cured; although it appears to create not only physical but also social and psychological discomfort for the people who are diagnosed with it (Satterfield & Volansky 2012). The lifestyle awareness will allow them to feel more humane and included in their social and environmental contexts. With the implementation of self-management it is possible to change not only the attitude of those have diabetes but also the general public’s attitudes towards behavior and lifestyle changes.

Conclusion

The overall management and prevention of diabetes can be enhanced through the implementation of holistic learning. The condition has various issues that challenge the validity of the current prevention methods. A holistic learning approach is set to reduce instances of diabetes whilst improving the quality of life of patients and the overall productivity of the society. The holistic approach can be applied to three main areas of diabetes and prevention with the view of revitalizing the whole process. One of the key priorities in the prevention of diabetes is coming up with measures that go beyond clinical interventions.

References

Castillo, A., Giachello & Arrom, J 2010, “Community-based diabetes education for Latinos Diabetes Empowerment Education Program”, The Diabetes Educator, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 586-594.

Kutty, B & Raju, R 2009, “New vistas in treating diabetes-insight into a holistic approach”, Indian Journal of Medical Research, vol. 131, no. 5, pp. 606-608.

Rydén, L., Grant, P & Anker, D 2013, “ESC Guidelines on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases developed in collaboration with the EASD”, European Heart Journal, vol. 34, no. 39, pp. 3035-3087.

Satterfield, D & Volansky, M 2012, “Community-based lifestyle interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes” Diabetes Care, vol. 26, no. 9, pp. 2643-2652.

Teixeira, E 2010, “The effect of mindfulness meditation on painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in adults older than 50 years”, Holistic Nursing Practice, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 277-283.

Introduction

A pregnant woman can have gestational diabetes where tests find a level of glucose intolerance on first recognition. GDM is commonly diagnosed during pregnancy. Studies have found that approximately 7 percent of all pregnancies have GDM complication, and the prevalence is estimated between 2%-14% (American Diabetes Association, 2004). The changes in rates are mostly attributed to the number of contradictory criteria used in the diagnosis, even those guidelines provided by the American Diabetes Association and the World Health Organization.

Gestational diabetes starts when the woman is pregnant. Insulin injection may be recommended although the sickness may prevail after delivery. Proper care is given when there is sign of insulin intolerance.

Assessment of GDM

The first part of the assessment process is the testing of blood glucose. Important information in the assessment includes individual maternal characteristics, behaviors, and experiences occurring several months prior to conception, during pregnancy, and the time following delivery. Information on lifestyle factors is significant in the assessment and data gathering.

Risk factors to be determined include body mass index, ethnicity, and maternal age evaluated using logistic regression. Obesity or overweight increases the risk for GDM. Ethnicity and advanced mother’s age are also factors in having GDM. These cannot be modified, thus the mother has to be educated of these risks.

When diagnosed with GDM, she will be oriented of her condition, educated of lifestyle changes and treatment to be given. Initially, she will have to attend a wellness module for women with GDM – the Care for Women Diagnosed with GDM. This is a twice-a-week program designed to care for pregnant women who may have other important schedules to attend to. Women will be taught how to take care of themselves and how to adjust to the treatment process. Pregnant women who are of advanced age and/or belong to ethnic groups are properly screened and monitored by health professionals.

Another important activity is the Post-partum gestational diabetes care. This is provided for pregnant mothers who have just been diagnosed with GDM. This module will not only focus on the mother, but on the baby as well. This time in a mother’s life is stressful and can increase glucose levels. New mothers are encouraged not to skip this important part of the treatment process.

Recommendations

Institutions like the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ), The Family Practice Therapeutic Guidelines, the ADA, and other government and private institutions make recommendations for GDM postpartum care. The AHRQ recommends: reclassification of maternal glycemic status in first six weeks after delivery, physical exercise for the mother, patient education regarding the required body weight, avoidance of insulin-resistant drugs, family planning methods and education, and assessment of offspring to find out abnormalities of glucose tolerance.

The Therapeutic Guidelines for Family Physicians provide recommendations for blood glucose measurement six weeks after delivery. This should be taken on two occasions to determine glucose tolerance and its classification, whether it is normal, impaired glucose tolerance, or diabetic. Normal glucose will provide a test value of less than 140 mg per dl. Impaired glucose tolerance may be above that, e.g. 140-200 mg per dl. Another recommendation is the regular annual screening for diabetes after a GDM pregnancy. Patients are advised to change lifestyles following a GDM pregnancy, and to observe a nutritional diet of fresh fruits and vegetables and regular exercise.

References

American Diabetes Association. (2016). Gestational Diabetes. Web.

Characteristics of the aggregate

Hispanics are people whose origins are associated with Spain and Portugal. However, the “US government maintains that Hispanic persons are those that can trace their origin or descent to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America and South America, and other Spanish cultures” (Gutierrez, Gimple, Dallo, Foster & Ohagi, 2011, p. 214). However, it is worth to note that Brazil is not included in the list of origins. Several studies have shown that Hispanics have the highest chances of developing type-2 diabetes. Nonetheless, the probability varies based on the ethnic group of a person and other factors, which may include the time that he or she has lived in America (Nwasuruba, Osuagwu, Bae, Singh & Egede, 2009). In the US, there are about fifty million Hispanics, contributing to sixteen percent of the total population. A recent study conducted to assess the number of Hispanics who have developed type-2 diabetes demonstrated that 16.9% of the Hispanic community in the US is associated with the condition, a relatively high proportion compared with the 10.2% of the non-Hispanic communities. As shown in other populations living in the nation, an increase in age is correlated with an increase in the probability of developing the condition. The prevalence of the disease among Hispanic females is 50%, while for males is 44.3%. An increase in the period that one spends in the US correlates with the chances of developing the disease. Fifty-two percent of all Hispanic diabetic patients are associated with poor ways of controlling blood sugars. Sadly, 49.5% of the people do not have health insurance, implying that they merely access high-quality healthcare services. Various bodies in the nation have been working to reduce the negative impacts caused by diabetes to people from all ethnic groups (Hay, Katon, Ell, Lee & Guterman, 2012). For example, the American Diabetes Association is at the forefront of fighting the disease and helping persons who are affected by it (Leyva, Zagarins, Allen & Welch, 2010). It achieves its goals by funding research on diabetes and delivering healthcare services to thousands of patients.

From the information above, it is evident that the Hispanic community is the most affected group by the health condition in America. Thus, it will be essential to address the group in this project to reduce mortality and prevalence rates in the future. Clearly, type-2 diabetes is a major problem since it affects people across all ages, but its prevalence increases with ages of citizens. As shown by the statistical data, such as prevalence rates and distribution of males and females, there should be effective approaches to preventing the disease in the US. Prevention of type-2 diabetes can be achieved by adopting many strategies, some of which can be based on the geographical locations of patients, gender, and age. However, it appears that geographical areas of Hispanics in the nation do not determine their chances of developing the condition.

The three levels of prevention

From a public health perspective, epidemiology is involved with “preventing and controlling diseases in human populations” (Frieden, 2010, p. 594). In this context, healthcare professionals can apply three levels. Briefly, primary prevention of diseases focuses on reducing the number of new infections and/or diseases within a population. Therefore, it can be argued that it is very effective in preventing infections in people who are susceptible. Secondary prevention is a public health initiative that concentrates on reducing the number of individuals who are already infected with a disease. Finally, tertiary prevention aims at limiting the frequency of disabilities and improving the extent to which patients with complications can function in society. Regarding the three levels of prevention, research has shown that “the natural history of the disease is closely associated with the level that can be applied” (Gutierrez et al., 2011, p. 214).

In this context, all the levels would be used to address the high prevalence rates of type-2 diabetes among Hispanics. Concerning primary prevention, Hispanics would be encouraged to know the various risk factors that are associated with the condition. The primary goal of the prevention level would be creating high levels of awareness among people who have the highest risks of developing the disease (Frieden, 2010). Thus, persons would be taught about the best lifestyle approaches to preventing type-2 diabetes. Apart from fostering healthier lifestyles, Hispanics would be advised to “adopt better methods of stress management” (Frieden, 2010, p. 593). The authorities in various states would be lobbied to ensure that restaurants do not sell food that has excess fat. In addition, healthcare facilities would encourage members of the population to seek medical checkups on an annual basis to detect type-2 diabetes at its earliest stages (Cohen, Neumann & Weinstein, 2008).

Secondary prevention would be used to cure the condition. Early detection of the condition would help to prevent complications at later stages. In fact, research has demonstrated that early diagnosis of type-2 diabetes can contribute to curing it, reduce its rate of progression, and/or decrease the intensity of its adverse impacts on patients and family members. One of the common approaches at this level is regular screening, which is a simple blood sugar test. However, some renal tests might be performed to assess the extent to which the kidneys filter blood sugar from the urine. If some medications are not effective in treating the condition, specialized care should be sought.

Tertiary prevention would involve giving medications and implementing rehabilitative strategies. Examples of measures at this stage include treating diabetics with drugs that prevent further complications. In fact, some complications lead to leg amputation. At the community level, it would be essential to provide facilities that promote healthcare from a holistic perspective (Frieden, 2010).

Conclusion

As demonstrated in this paper, Hispanics have the highest probability of developing type-2 diabetes. However, prevalence rates between males and females differ. The three prevention levels that would be implemented in the project would focus on avoiding new cases, treating infected persons, and educating various age groups on the best approaches to eliminating the negative impacts of the condition.

References

Cohen, J. T., Neumann, P. J., & Weinstein, M. C. (2008). Does preventive care save money? Health economics and the presidential candidates. New England Journal of Medicine, 358(7), 661-663.

Frieden, T. R. (2010). A framework for public health action: the health impact pyramid. American journal of public health, 100(4), 590-595.

Gutierrez, N., Gimple, N. E., Dallo, F. J., Foster, B. M., & Ohagi, E. J. (2011). Shared medical appointments in a residency clinic: an exploratory study among Hispanics with diabetes. Am J Manag Care, 17(6), 212-214.

Hay, J. W., Katon, W. J., Ell, K., Lee, P. J., & Guterman, J. J. (2012). Cost-effectiveness analysis of collaborative care management of major depression among low-income, predominantly Hispanics with diabetes. Value in health, 15(2), 249-254.

Leyva, B., Zagarins, S. E., Allen, N. A., & Welch, G. (2010). The relative impact of diabetes distress vs depression on glycemic control in hispanic patients following a diabetes self-management education intervention. Ethnicity & disease, 21(3), 322-327.

Nwasuruba, C., Osuagwu, C., Bae, S., Singh, K. P., & Egede, L. E. (2009). Racial differences in diabetes self-management and quality of care in Texas. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 23(2), 112-118.

Aggregate Description

Hispanic subgroups in the United States include Mexicans (66.9%), Central/South Americans (14.3%), Puerto Ricans (8.6%), and Cubans 3.6%). A recent study that was carried out among the Hispanics indicated that only 22.5% earn more than 35,600 US dollars per annum, 57% are high school graduates, and 67.5% boast of healthcare insurance (Hompesch et al., 2014). Among the Mexican-American Hispanics, the prevalence of type-2 diabetes is approximately 10.4% and 5.2% among the non-Hispanic population. According to Hompesch et al. (2014), the disease is predominant amongst the males (9.9%) as compared to females (11%). This paper adopts the DSME (Diabetes Self-Management Education) theory for alleviating diabetes amongst the minority ethnic groups.

Other factors that increase the vulnerability of Hispanics to type-2 diabetes include lifestyle, ethnicity, age, overweight, obesity, and biological factors. For instance, the frequency of obesity among the Mexican-American Hispanics who are above the age of 20 years is 65.9% among the females and 63.9% in males. These figures show that Hispanics are more likely to suffer from the disease than the non-Hispanics. A recent study shows that Hispanic communities do not perform physical exercises frequently.

The aforementioned statistics imply that Hispanics are highly affected by type-2 diabetes. Therefore, there is a need to adopt a health strategy to avert the sickening trend that has been prevalent amongst the population. However, the health remedy should take into account various factors that affect the vulnerability of the Hispanics community to the disease. Most importantly, the plan should also consider distribution of the malady amongst different ages of the population. Statistics clearly show that age, gender, socio-economic status, and weight management are some of the key factors that affect the distribution of type-2 diabetes amongst the Hispanics.

Three Levels of Prevention

Disease prevention refers to practices that are geared towards eliminating the chances of a certain condition with a view of averting its future effects on the susceptible groups. Various levels of forestalling such diseases include primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention (Müller-Wieland & Goldstein, 2008).

Primary prevention aims at precluding a condition that does not yet exist. This level targets the general population. Measures to avoid obesity such as sensitization of people to the benefits of regular physical exercises and/or restricted calorie intake should form the basis of primary prevention of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, susceptible populations such as the Hispanics should become the prime target groups to healthcare professionals (Müller-Wieland & Goldstein, 2008).

On the other hand, secondary prevention focuses on the detection of the malady at its onset with a view of executing early evidence-based interventions. In diabetes type-2, this detection is based on proof of messy starch metabolism, which can be assessed through oral glucose tolerance test. Müller-Wieland & Goldstein (2008) confirm that early diagnosis of type-2 diabetes contributes appropriate cure; hence, it reduces its progression rate. It also lessens adverse consequences that it can pose to the family lineage because it can be biologically transmitted. Secondary prevention is offered through a two-step process in which population screening is followed by interventions and proper medication as prescribed by health experts. Health professionals carry out both selective population and opportunistic screening on target groups such as the Hispanics.

Finally, tertiary prevention strategies encompass actions that are taken to delay the development of chronic disease complications. It averts the advancement of complications through early diagnosis and effective monitoring, treatment, and care of people with diabetes. Tertiary prevention also involves provision of appropriate medication and implementation of rehabilitative strategies. Measures at this phase include treatment of diabetics with drugs that prevent further complications that can result in lifetime incapacitation such as leg amputation (Pyatak, Florindez, Peters, & Weigensberg, 2014). Effective interventions at this level include strict metabolic control, provision of education to the affected group on things such as proper dieting and drug intake to facilitate effective treatment of the disease.

Conclusion

The vulnerability of Hispanics type-2 diabetes has raised international health concern amongst many professionals. As a result, prevention measures should be taken to reverse the trend. The project aims at determining the core factors that make the susceptible group with a view of developing mechanisms to avert the impacts of the disease on the Hispanics. Sensitization of people to primary detection and early diagnosis is recommended as a first step towards leading healthy lifestyles that avert possibilities of developing type-2 diabetes.

Reference List

Hompesch, M., Morrow, L., Watkins, E., Roepstorff, C., Thomsen, H., & Haahr, H. (2014). Original Research: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Responses of Insulin Degludec in African American, White, and Hispanic/Latino Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Clinical Therapeutics, 36(4), 507-15.

Müller-Wieland, D., & Goldstein, B. (2008). Type 2 Diabetes: Principles and Practice. New York, NY: CRC Press.

Pyatak, E., Florindez, D., Peters, A., & Weigensberg, M. (2014). ‘We are all gonna get diabetic these days’: the impact of a living legacy of type 2 diabetes on Hispanic young adults’ diabetes care. The Diabetes Educator, 40(5), 648-58.

Introduction

Hispanics are people who can trace their origin back to the Spanish speaking regions of South America and those whose history relates to countries and towns such as Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and Gibraltar. However, the U.S. Bureau of Statistics uses the term to refer to the inhabitants of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico and other Spanish speaking nations in South America and the Caribbean region. For the American public, the definition of a Hispanic is broader than the definitions above. Any group of people that shares the Spanish culture is considered Hispanic regardless race or origin. In the recent past, there has been a notion that Hispanics are more susceptible to diabetes than non-Hispanics. This notion seems to be supported by findings from comparative studies, which involve Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations. The essay examines the truth behind this notion.

Demographic Information

Currently, there are about 246 million people suffering from diabetes worldwide. The figure is anticipated to reach 380 million if health agencies do not take the required measures to tackle the epidemic (Leslie, 2012). The number of women constituting this figure is more than half of the total population. In the U.S. alone, up to 21 million people are affected by diabetes and about 9.7 million of them are women. Intriguingly, the prevalence of diabetes is two to four times higher among Hispanics than it is among non-Hispanic whites. It has also been established that susceptibility to diabetes increases with age. Additional research shows that the reason behind the prevalence of diabetes in women is their poor lifestyle. About 47 percent of Hispanic women are obese.

Socioeconomic Characteristics

The socioeconomic status of Hispanics has often been lower than that of non-Hispanic whites. This state of affairs makes it hard for Hispanics to access quality healthcare services in a timely manner. The results of a study carried out in 1997 indicate that 26 percent of the Hispanic population in the U.S. lived in abject poverty at the time as compared to only 7 percent of the non-Hispanic population. Further, based on the findings of the same study, the number of Hispanics living in poverty was expected to increase since the social and economic environments tend to favor the non-Hispanic whites. This trend is persistent to date, and is the reason behind the prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics (Brown, 2008).

Severity of Health Issue

According to the National Centre for Health Statistics, Hispanics constitute the largest percentage of smokers worldwide. In terms of percentages, non-Hispanic whites constitute 29 percent, Mexicans 29 percent, Puerto Ricans 23 percent, and Cubans 26 percent of male smokers. Among women, Puerto Ricans constitute 23 percent, whites 22 percent, Cubans 18 percent and Mexicans 15 percent of smokers. Such a high number of smokers in the Hispanic community translates to more cases of diabetes. The issue of acculturation also increases the prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics. A high percentage of young Hispanic women between the ages of 19 and 44 years avoid eating traditional foods that play a critical role in reducing the incidence of diabetes (Sedaris, 2013).

Community Resources

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey III and the National Health Interview Survey, about 37 percent of women above the age of 18 years and 30 percent of men above the age of 18 years have no access to leisure equipment. This limitation leads to non-involvement in physical exercises. The end result is the weakening of the immune system.

Geographical Distribution

Data from the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly shows that many Hispanics are less likely to get healthcare services due to their remote geographical location. Their location makes it difficult to get ready transport services when there is an emergency (Colbert, 2009). As a result, most Hispanics only seek healthcare services when serious cases of illness occur. This trend leads to the rapid spread of diseases. Finally, their remote locations also make communication a problem, further limiting their ability to access healthcare services.

Environmental Conditions

The condition of the environments in which Hispanics live also adds increases their susceptibility to diabetes. As noted earlier, there is a large number of smokers among Hispanics. The resulting air pollution poses great health risks to both smokers and non-smokers. In addition, the low socioeconomic conditions that are characteristic of Hispanics make it difficult for them to rid their homes of health hazards. However, the fact that Hispanics are prone to diabetes does not mean that non-Hispanics are free from the risk of suffering from diabetes. As such, everyone should pay close attention to their lifestyles to ensure that they lead healthy lives. Otherwise, the gap between Hispanics and non-Hispanics insofar as the prevalence of diabetes is concerned will narrow or even close.

Conclusion

It is apparent that Hispanics are more susceptible to diabetes that non-Hispanics. Therefore, stakeholders should go beyond merely studying the problem and start instituting measures that will bring about a reduction in the prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics. Such an approach can go a long way in reducing the prevalence of diabetes on a global scale.

References

Brown, R. M. (2008). Diabetes: Good food choices. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Colbert, D. (2009). The New Bible cure for diabetes. Lake Mary, FL: Charisma Media.

Leslie, C. L. D. ( 2012). Diabetes: Clinician’s desk reference. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Sedaris, D. (2013). Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Web Causation

It has been established that the Hispanics have higher chances of becoming diabetic than the Whites. Using Web of Causation, this trend may be attributed to a number of facts. According to Ritter and Hoffman (2010), one of the known causes of type 2 diabetes is strenuous jobs. The Hispanics, as opposed to the Whites, always find themselves taking up strenuous jobs, especially those who immigrated to the United States illegally in search of employment opportunities (Purnell, 2013). It is important to develop an intervention plan that explains how this problem can be dealt with in order to reduce the number of Hispanics who are diabetic.

Outcome Goal and Objectives for the Plan

The main goal for this plan is to reduce the number of Hispanics who suffer from type 2 diabetes. To do this, it will be necessary to achieve a number of objectives. The first objective will be to reduce the risk factors that make the Hispanics vulnerable to this disease. The plan will find effective ways of managing diabetes among the Hispanics. It will find a way of working closely with the local community organizations to find a lasting solution to this problem. Involving the affected group in finding the appropriate ways of reducing this problem will also be part of this elaborate plan.

Intervention Plan and Organizations That May Assist

In this intervention plan, the focus will be to create awareness among the Hispanics about the factors that may make one more vulnerable to the disease. The awareness campaign will also involve informing the target group about the appropriate ways of responding to the possible signs of diabetes (Barnett, 2011). CDC is one of the best organizations that may assist in this program. This organization has been involved in extensive research and has the right resources to help in making this program a reality. It is for these reasons that it was considered an appropriate organization that can help in this program.

Evaluating the Intervention

It will be important to evaluate the performance of the intervention plan in order to determine how appropriate it is in addressing the identified problem. This program will be evaluated in two main ways. The first evaluation method will be to determine how well the Hispanics understand the risk factors and how to respond to the early signs of diabetes. This evaluation method is appropriate because it will help to determine how well informed the target group are in leading a healthy lifestyle after the program (Liburd, 2010). The second approach will be to determine the rate of new cases of diabetes after the completion of the program. This method is appropriate because it will help determine the real impact of the program in meeting its primary goal

References

Barnett, A. H. (2011). Type 2 diabetes. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Liburd, L. C. (2010). Diabetes and health disparities: Community-based approaches for racial and ethnic populations. New York: Springer Pub. Co.

Purnell, L. D. (2013). Transcultural health care: A culturally competent approach. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

Ritter, L. A., & Hoffman, N. A. (2010). Multicultural health. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Diabetes has become one of the most pressing health issues in the world. The condition directly affects approximately three hundred million people across the world. The magnanimity of the type 2 diabetes pandemic is expected to rise as more individuals across all demographics continue to suffer from the condition. When taking care of people with diabetes psychosocial factors play a significant part in ensuring that short-term effects do not compound into long-term emotional issues. Consequently, psychosocial is a key component of diabetes management to both the patients and caregivers. For instance, “having patients acquire valued personal beliefs and achievable standards of performance could strengthen self-regulation and self-efficacy leading to a more positive experience and healthy behaviors” (Young and Unachukwu 4).

Patients who are equipped with the necessary psychosocial knowledge are in a position to employ it to make the quality of their lives better. On the other hand, the care of type 2 diabetes is subject to various aspects of medical and psychosocial nature. Research on the psychosocial implications of diabetes management is limited and both patients and caregivers have to rely on experimentation in this regard. Nevertheless, medical professionals and other caregivers bear the biggest psychosocial burden in the care of patients with diabetes. Some of the manifestations of psychosocial issues in the care of patients with diabetes include susceptibility to depression and anxiety. Patients and caregivers are supposed to have relevant knowledge concerning the manifestations of psychosocial factors when it comes to the management of type 2 diabetes. This essay outlines the psychosocial implications that are manifested during the care of a patient with type 2 diabetes.

One of the psychosocial aspects of caring for patients with diabetes involves the shock that comes with lifestyle adjustments among newly diagnosed individuals. Diabetes creates tensions that come from the various demands on lifestyle changes. In addition, there is always a threat of patients suffering from life-threatening complications within a short time. All these factors are consequently related to a patient’s social welfare because these risks apply both to him/her and those in his/her social circles. These psychosocial factors are particularly heightened in “parts of the developing world with poor healthcare and social support, the economic consequences of living with diabetes can be enormous for the patient, leading to inadequate care and the subsequent development of complications” (Hampson 58). This psychological burden is further increased by the fact that lifestyle change is a mandatory requirement in the management of diabetes. Consequently, a person who has diabetes might be forced to make lifestyle changes that others do not have to make including weight reduction, dietary changes, and regular insulin administration. All these factors create a psychological burden on patients and on some occasions their caregivers. Lack of relevant information in regards to the management of type 2 diabetes only serves to make the understanding of the psychosocial issues of management worse.

Another psychosocial implication of caring for a patient with diabetes relates to the fact that the disease affects an individual’s quality of life in a major manner. Although it is difficult to measure how the quality of life is affected accurately, patients have to contend with a significant reduction of this factor. For instance, a diabetic patient suffers from both micro-vascular and macro-vascular complications in his/her quest to manage the condition. These complications are easily transformed into psychosocial effects among individuals who have to contend with issues that touch on their general well-being, relationships with others, lack of acceptance, feelings of inadequacy, and increased demand for information. Neuropathy is one side effect that has been found to relate to both diminished qualities of life and diabetes. In addition, there is a risk of individuals suffering from the emotional reaction, diminished energy levels, lack of physical mobility, and sleeplessness as a result of diabetes management. All these consequences are a trigger for psychosocial manifestations during the management of type 2 diabetes.

Caregivers require to be equipped with necessary education in regards to the management of type 2 diabetes. This one method can be effective in the alleviation of psychosocial issues that result from a reduction in the quality of life (Rubin and Peyrot 460). Therefore, caregivers need to harbor the necessary awareness when it comes to personal risks of psychosocial factors. Caregivers also need to have proximity awareness when it comes to their own lives and diabetes awareness.

The treatment of type 2 diabetes is a lifelong affair and patients are often aware of this fact. Consequently, the lifelong nature of diabetes treatment is likely to cause psychological pressure among patients. On the other hand, drugs dependency is associated with several psychosocial implications among patients and within their respective positions. In the end, “it is difficult for patients to adjust to the depressive lifestyle of drug dependency, especially among young patients” (Bradley and Lewis 445). There have been incidences where burnout because of drug dependency has resulted in individuals abandoning diabetes treatment.

The treatment regimen of type 2 diabetes includes oral medication, glycaemic control, and physical exercises among others. All these treatment methods are known to exert psychosocial pressure among patients. For instance, “reactions to the introduction of insulin include feelings of a feat of pain from injections, fear of dying from hypoglycemia, frustration, and a perceived lack of control over the progression of the disease” (Kimball 1008). All these factors have to be managed in light of psychosocial implications in the management of type 2 diabetes.

One regimen that can alleviate the pressure of psychosocial implications in the care of diabetes is the use of a holistic approach. A holistic approach to diabetes could have the potential to “explore the social situation, attitudes, beliefs, and worries related to diabetes and self-care issues” (Chew, Shariff-Ghazali, and Fernandez 796). This approach is the only method of treatment that offers diabetes’ caregivers access to the psychological wellbeing of patients. Through a holistic approach to diabetes management, both medical and non-medical methods are applied to the treatment of this condition. Furthermore, communication between patients and caregivers creates an atmosphere where psychosocial factors cannot develop.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that requires significant effort in its management including lifestyle adjustments and active patient involvement. In recent times, it has become important for diabetes management stakeholders to take note of the psychosocial aspects that apply to the care of patients with type 2 diabetes. The mastery of the psychosocial implications of diabetes management is important to both patients and their caregivers. Psychosocial factors apply to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diabetes. Nevertheless, some newer concepts of diabetes management such as the holistic approach to treatment have eased the impact of psychosocial factors.

Works Cited

Bradley, Charles., and Anderson Lewis. “Measures of Psychological Well‐being and Treatment Satisfaction Developed from the Responses of People with Tablet‐treated Diabetes.” Diabetic Medicine 7.5 (2010): 445-451. Print.

Chew, Boon-How, Sazlina Shariff-Ghazali, and Aaron Fernandez. “Psychological Aspects of Diabetes Care: Effecting Behavioral Change in Patients.” World Journal of Diabetes 5.6 (2014): 796. Print.

Hampson, Sarah. “Effects of Educational and Psychosocial Interventions for Adolescents with Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review.” Health Technology Assessment 5.10 (2001): 1-79. Print.

Kimball, Patterson. “Emotional and Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes Mellitus.” The Medical Clinics of North America 55.4 (2011): 1007-1018. Print.

Rubin, Richard, and Mark Peyrot. “Psychological Issues and Treatments for People with Diabetes.” Journal of Clinical Psychology 57.4 (2001): 457-478. Print.

Young, Eliot, and Cathy Unachukwu. “Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes Mellitus.” African Journal of Diabetes Medicine 20.1 (2012): 3-7. Print.