Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease, Essay Example

Research findings indicate that involvement in exercise can lead to moderate weight loss and consequent prevention or delayed onset of type 2 diabetes for adults highly vulnerable to diabetes (Chiha, Njein & Chedrawy, 2012).  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC is a social system that is responsible for promotion of lifestyle changes aiming at prevention or delayed onset of type 2. The ultimate goal of CDC involves reducing the associated risk factors and preventing type 2 diabetes in African Americans. The objectives of CDC are executed through “National Diabetes Prevention Program” by offering assistance to organizations to change the health status of people in community. The program promotes group effort among the federal agencies, employers, professionals in healthcare, insurers, community-based groups, and academic institutions as well as other stakeholders to embrace initiatives for prevention and postponement of type 2 diabetes onsets among African Americans individuals (Goetzel & Ozminkowski, 2008).

The National Diabetes Prevention Program was made successful by YMCA along with UnitedHealth Group as the inaugural partners. The partners played a significant role in the initiation of the program and progressed in attainment of the lifestyle programs. CDC has been passionate on the involvement of other organizations in National Diabetes Prevention Program and has influenced Viridian Health Management, Inc. in the recent past to join hands with CDC and other partners in the expansion of the program (Goetzel & Ozminkowski, 2008).

The program potentially assists people to reduce by half the risk associated with type 2 diabetes. This is achievable through modest changes in lifestyle behavior leading to a drastic reduction in body weight. The program also sensitizes people about potential health complications that are associated with diabetes such as kidney failure, amputation of low-extremity body parts, blindness and heart related diseases. Participants in this program are assigned lifestyle couch in groups.

References

Chiha, M., Njein, M., & Chedrawy, E.G., (2012). “Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease: A Risk Factor for the Global Epidemic”. International Journal of Hypertension, 2012(1), 1-7.

Goetzel, R. & Ozminkowski, R., (2008). “The health and cost benefits of work site health-promotion  programs”. Annu Rev Public Health. 29: 303-323.