Diabetes in Urban Societies, Research Paper Example

Introduction to the American Diabetes Association

Many organizations operate with their primary intent to support the needs of patients with type 2 diabetes, a serious disease with multiple complications. This disease is characterized by a number of important characteristics and provides significant support through funding for research regarding the causes and potential treatments. In addition, the organization provides important and valuable information to the general population regarding diabetes and its overall impact on children and adults. The disease also supports a greater understanding of diabetes as a complex condition with many complications. This problem is a severe chronic condition in the United States and has led to a significant burden on the healthcare system and high healthcare costs. The role of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) promotes greater awareness of the disease and provides funding to communities and researchers in order to alleviate the burden of diabetes on the U.S. population. The ADA is an advocate for the prevention of diabetes in order to alleviate its impact on millions of children and adults.

Analysis of Problem

In the United States, 23.6 million people have diabetes, or 7.8 percent of the population, of which 17.9 million have already been diagnosed and another 5.7 million have yet to be diagnosed (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2014). Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that impacts the production of insulin in the pancreas, whereby insulin is either not produced or it is not utilized properly (NIDDK, 2014). There are two types of diabetes: 1) type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease that halts or minimizes insulin production to the point that it is difficult to produce, thereby requiring patients to take insulin daily; and 2) type 2 diabetes, insulin is produced but is not used effectively, which contributes to insulin resistance (NIDDK, 2014). Type 1 diabetes is found in 5 to 10 percent of the population with diabetes, while type 2 is found in 90 to 95 percent of individuals (NIDDK, 2014). Other forms of diabetes include gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy, and a less common version known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), where patients exhibit signs of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes (NIDDK, 2014). Diabetes is also manifested in a precursory form known as prediabetes, whereby blood glucose is higher than the normal range, but this level does not qualify for a diagnosis of diabetes (Centers for Disease Control, 2014). For this population, weight loss and physical activity may prevent the development of type 2 diabetes (CDC, 2014).

Some of the primary risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes include the following: overweight or obese, age, a history of diabetes in the family, specific cultures or ethnicities such as African American, American Indian, and Hispanic/Latino, limited physical activity, and a prior history of gestational diabetes (CDC, 2014). Other primary risk factors include smoking, stress, depression, and poor sleeping patterns, all of which may exacerbate the disease in different ways (International Diabetes Federation, 2014).  The most frequently identified symptoms of diabetes include an increased frequency to urinate, weight loss, fatigue, increased hunger, excessive thirst, blurred vision, numbness in the hands and/or feet, and the discovery of wounds that do not heal slowly (International Diabetes Federation, 2014). For patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes, treatments often include the management of blood glucose levels with insulin or oral medication; furthermore, other requirements to consider include the management of blood pressure, improved cholesterol control, improved foot care, and screenings for such conditions as retinopathy and kidney disease (World Health Organization, 2014).

In spite of the advances and promotion regarding the prevention of diabetes, the disease remains a chronic and debilitating disease that affects millions of people. Lifestyle changes such as weight loss, quitting smoking, and improving physical activity serve as key preventative factors (World Health Organization, 2014). Diabetes prevention is a primary focus in many organizations and provides further evidence of the continued necessity for guidelines that govern diabetes and its impact on human health (World Health Organization, 2014). Important objectives include diabetes-related surveillance, greater awareness of the disease, and standardized guidelines regarding the treatment of diabetes in both children and adults (World Health Organization, 2014).

Interview Summaries

Based upon the interviews that were conducted with employees working for the American Diabetes Association, there is a significant ongoing battle in preventing type 2 diabetes. For the millions of people already affected by the disease, it is important to minimize the impact of the disease on organs and systems as best as possible. The American Diabetes Association was established as a means of increasing awareness for diabetes and to provide information to the general public regarding the serious nature of this chronic condition and how it impacts human health. This is a significant challenge that the ADA continues to emphasize every day. The organization has established a strong and widespread focus on a number of areas, including awareness, prevention, diagnosis, and early treatment. Each of these areas has a significant impact on how diabetes is viewed and treated throughout society. This is also an important step towards the discovery of new areas of research that might provide further insight regarding the cause of the disease, various treatment methods, and its long-term impact on survival and quality of life.

In the interviews, it was also emphasized that it is necessary to enhance prevention efforts through a comprehensive intervention that is designed to facilitate change and progress within communities where diabetes exists. This process supports the continued growth and expansion of diabetes-related prevention mechanisms to encourage lifestyle changes in many children and adults with the intent to prevent a diagnosis of diabetes in the future. The target audience for the organization is children and adults in all communities throughout the United States, including both rural and urban areas. It is unlikely that any area exists where diabetes is not a factor; therefore, the target audience is large and widespread. However, the organization also focuses on those members of the population who face a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly those who are overweight or obese and who do not perform sufficient physical activities on a regular basis. This population is particularly vulnerable to the effects of diabetes and must be closely targeted in any prevention efforts that are conducted.

The interviewees stressed that although the organization has been largely successful in its efforts to promote diabetes prevention, there is much work to do, particularly with vulnerable populations, such as African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos. These populations do not always appear to have the knowledge and resources that are required to prevent diabetes in their own lives; therefore, targeted interventions must be conducted that will have a positive impact on these populations in aiming to prevent the spread of diabetes. The organization provides many resources to communities so that they are able to conduct their own awareness and prevention programs; however, these resources are not always used sufficiently. It is the responsibility of the ADA to take the steps that are required to ensure that the appropriate target populations are receiving the information that is required to promote greater prevention of diabetes within their communities through education programs and other events that will capture the attention of local residents and support their understanding of the disease and its impact on human health and wellbeing.

Finally, the interviewees recognize that diabetes is a serious epidemic; therefore, the organization is committed to making diabetes one of the key factors in the development of new programs that target specific populations where diabetes is a serious health challenge. This process is ongoing and requires a strong and knowledgeable staff who is dedicated to the successful prevention of diabetes over the long term. This process is a key motivator for the interviewees and the staff as a whole, as they recognize the significance of type 2 diabetes and how it impacts the lives of millions of Americans, often in very devastating ways. Therefore, they continue to strive to share their knowledge with others and to recognize the importance of diabetes awareness throughout the United States, but particularly in communities where the threat is greatest.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a serious and debilitating epidemic in the United States, and although millions of people already have the disease, millions more are undiagnosed and/or may develop the disease in the future. Therefore, diabetes education and awareness are critical to the success of the organization and its primary objectives. It is important to identify the resources that are required to manage diabetes and to improve the impact of the ADA on communities throughout the United States. These factors support the continued growth and development of new programs that are designed to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes, and to also recognize those who are at the greatest risk of developing the disease. This combined approach enables the ADA to provide greater awareness and support to communities where diabetes has affected the population in some way. The ADA provides a positive and reinforcing level of support in order to promote diabetes prevention and effective treatment of existing patients to achieve greater quality of life.

References

American Diabetes Association (2014). Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Prediabetes. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/prediabetes.htm

International Diabetes Federation (2014). Signs and symptoms of diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.idf.org/signs-and-symptoms-diabetes

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2014). Diabetes overview. Retrieved from http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/overview/

World Health Organization (2014). Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/