Examine, analyze, and explain specific disease recognition techniques relative to your chosen disease state (UPLOADED). Discuss how screening (or other recognition strategies) can be utilized in education, and prevention program to help address public health concerns. Discuss the potential impact of these activities on health and wellness, and identify resources that are currently utilized and/or needed to improve efforts.
Your writing should reflect professionalism in grammar, spelling, writing style/format (one-inch margins, double spaced, typed in 12-point Times New Roman font), include APA 6th in text citations when appropriate/reference page, and an appropriate title page.
Sources: At least one of your references should be from the textbook, VanMeter, K., & Hubert, R. (2014). Gould’s pathophysiology for the health professions (5th ed.). St. Louis, MI: Saunders.
Disease State: Diabetes
Diabetes is among the most prevalent lifestyle disease that continues to pose great challenges to modern public health. Lifestyle diseases are those diseases that are predisposed by individuals’ way of life. Lifestyle diseases have presented great challenges in the public health sectors compared to other diseases. Lifestyle diseases are as a result of cultural and lifestyle changes common among modern societies. Causal factors that lead to lifestyle diseases include prolonged and unregulated intake of an unhealthy diet, smoking without cessation, high alcohol consumption, drug abuse and lack of regular physical activities. Diabetes is a metabolic disease that arises from a prolonged period of high blood sugar. Patients experience frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger. Untreated cases of diabetes lead to severe complications such as stroke, kidney failure, foot ulcers, and cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes exists in two types, which are type one (insulin dependent diabetes) and type two (non-insulin dependent diabetes). Prevention and treatment involve the intake of a healthy diet, maintaining normal body weight, and regular physical exercises.
Brief Summary of the Issue: Why Diabetes is a Challenge to Public Health
Current statistics indicate that approximately 387 million people are diabetic according to the 2014 International Diabetes Federation data. It is also estimated that 4.9 million deaths between 2012 and 2014 were attributed to type 2 diabetes across the globe. The 2014 International Diabetes Federation reports also indicate that an estimated 595 million people will be suffering from diabetes by 2035. These estimates show that the prevalent rate of diabetes will remain a great challenge to the public sector. More reports affirm that an estimated $612 billion was spent on diabetes treatment in 2014 in the U.S. Reports from other developed and developing countries also indicate that diabetes remains the top most health challenge in modern society (American Diabetes Association 2015).
Across the globe, most countries are struggling with reforms to improve public healthcare by the increasing number of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes (Polonsky, 2012). Diabetes is a chronic disease whose economic cost management remains a great challenge to families and governments (American Diabetes Association 2013). The problem is exacerbated by increased obesity cases among children and the aging population in developed countries. Diabetes is a public heath challenge because it carries several health complications on individuals. Diabetic patients suffer from a wide range of health complications such as hypertension, stroke, festered wounds, cancer, and heart failure. In this case, considering the rising number of diabetic and obesity cases across all demographic categories raises serious concerns on public health.
Current Events or “Hot Buttons” that Make Discussion of Diabetes Timely
There have been great developments in addressing the challenges posed by diabetes. To start with, most countries have been advocating for reduced sugars in carbonated drinks and other food substances (Polonsky, 2012). These efforts keep pressing food manufacturers to introduce sugar free drinks such as diet coke. In the U.S., 2015 was a great year for the Diabetes Association that advocated and participated in various advances aimed at addressing diabetic problems. On December 22, 2015, the American Diabetes Association released 2016 standards for diabetes medical care. On December 19, 2015, the American Diabetes Association applauded the congress for increased funding for diabetes care (American Diabetes Association 2015).
In addition, in year 2015, the American Diabetes Association engaged various stakeholders in education programs aimed at reducing diabetes cases among school going children and adults. These events and reports indicate that there have been great efforts to address the problems of diabetes. In part, education and advocacy programs are essential in addressing diabetic conditions. Most people are less informed and ignorant on diabetes matters and public education is important especially for school going children and adults. Increased research on diabetes drugs are a positive aspect in addressing the challenges posed for diabetes (Wild, Roglic, Green, Sicree and King 2004). Recently, research has been made on various drugs for treating and preventing the diabetes condition (American Diabetes Association 2015). On January, 8 2016, FDA approved Integra Omnigraft Dermal Regeneration Matrix drug for treating foot ulcers. More studies are made on various diets for diabetes patients and this is a positive move in addressing diabetics health challenges.
Diabetes is a chronic disease whose economic cost poses great challenge to the public sector (Polonsky, 2012). The recent increase of funds for diabetes patients is a positive step in addressing diabetes health challenges. Most people who suffer from diabetes lack resources that can support dietary changes and lifestyle changes required for diabetic patients. The enactment of the Diabetes Medicare Prevention Act in April 2015 was a great step in addressing health cost challenges associated with diabetes (American Diabetes Association 2015). The most conspicuous current events associated with diabetes involve increased advocacy and education programs aimed at managing diabetes cases among children. Current data indicates that school going children are the most vulnerable group on diabetes matters (Wild, Roglic, Green, Sicree, and King 2004). As such, the current advocacy and education programs are timely in addressing diabetes issues.
Researchers observe that type 2 diabetes is preventable and treatable at an early age among children compared to diabetic cases in adults. Diabetes remains the top killer disease in the modern society and there is need for discussion and deliberation in order to minimize the prevalent rates (Wild, Roglic, Green, Sicree and King 2004). Diabetes is an all class health challenge affecting the poor unlike in the traditional times when diabetes was associated with wealthy people (Polonsky, 2012). In fact, current studies indicate that diabetes prevalence rates are higher among the poor and minority groups. Therefore, discussion and debates on diabetes is needed in order to share ideas on diabetes and avert serious future challenges in the healthcare sector.
References
American Diabetes, Association (Apr 2013). “Economic costs of diabetes in the U.S. in 2012.” Diabetes Care 36 (4): 1033–46.
American Diabetes Association (2015). Recent Advances. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/research-and-practice/we-are-research-leaders/recent-advances/
Polonsky KS (2012). “The Past 200 Years in Diabetes.” New England Journal of Medicine 367 (14): 1332–40
Wild S, Roglic G, Green A, Sicree R, King H (2004). “Global prevalence of diabetes: Estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030.” Diabetes Care 27 (5): 1047–53.