Health Care and Nursing Issue, Coursework Example

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes is a particularly challenging chronic disease that impacts many people. In particular, African Americans are a vulnerable population that faces considerable risks associated with type 2 diabetes, as they often experience a limited understanding of the disease, inconsistencies in access to treatment, and difficult issues related to management of the condition and how it impacts their own lives. These set of circumstances limit the ability of individuals to be successful in treating type 2 diabetes, and a host of other patients go undiagnosed as a result of these limitations. Therefore, it is necessary to address some of these weaknesses and to consider the opportunities that are available to improve the diagnostic capabilities and treatment of type 2 diabetes for African Americans. This vulnerable population requires a high level of commitment and understanding of their condition in order to achieve effective results, as well as a means of developing new strategies that will improve outcomes for this population on a long-term basis. The following discussion will address the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the African American population and will consider the resources that are necessary and available to support this condition more effectively. This process requires an ongoing effort to achieve positive outcomes and to reflect upon the challenges that are associated with achieving patient care outcomes and the development of new strategies to improve patient care quality and access for this population.

Analysis

African Americans require a specific level of care and treatment associated with type 2 diabetes that reflects their lack of knowledge and understanding of the condition. It is important to identify these needs and to evaluate the conditions under which patients require greater attention and focus from the healthcare community. Patients must be able to receive the appropriate treatments and opportunities for self-management that will support effective outcomes for this population group. For example, patients in rural communities require a high level of care and treatment that will be effective in supporting the management of type 2 diabetes and its overall impact on their lives. Patient care must be successful and appropriate, given the challenges of reaching members of this population with the diagnostic tools and treatment options that are available (Bray et.al, 2013). Diabetes care must be comprehensive and must have a lasting impact on patient care and related outcomes, as this will enable residents in rural areas to obtain the necessary tools and treatments that are required to support their self-management of the disease (Bray et.al, 2013). By conducting interventions that support a comprehensive approach to patient care and treatment, it is likely that patients within this group will achieve greater outcomes and will demonstrate the importance of type 2 diabetes self-management as a means of improving glycemic control (Bray et.al, 2013). Diabetes education and treatment must be addressed concurrently with this population because this method is likely to have a greater impact on patients and their ability to be successful in treating patients successfully over the long term (Bray et.al, 2013).

Healthcare professionals must continuously work with African American patients with type 2 diabetes as a means of developing new strategies for improvement and in creating new outcomes for patients who require treatment on a continuous basis. The concept of self-management is particularly challenging and misunderstood by many members of this population; therefore, it is important to recognize these challenges and to consider the role of developing new perspectives that will have a favorable impact on patient care and treatment in this manner (Lynch, Fernandez, Lighthouse, Mendenhall, & Jacobs, 2012). It is known that “Lower-income black and Hispanic patients are less likely to engage in diabetes self-management behaviors than higher income whites, which may partially explain ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in diabetes outcomes. Less effective diabetes self-management may result, at least in part, from patients’ lack of understanding about how to effectively manage their diabetes” (Lynch et.al, 2012). Therefore, it is important to identify the resources that are required to ensure that type 2 diabetes is effectively managed within this population and that other factors are considered that will have an impact on patient care and wellbeing for this group (Lynch et.al, 2012). Lack of knowledge and a limited focus on this population are key contributors in the limited understanding of this group; therefore, it is important to identify the resources that are required to ensure that patient outcomes are achieved and are appropriate for this patient population (Lynch et.al, 2012). This perspective supports the need for improved understanding of glycemic control, greater control over dietary habits, and expanded approaches to physical activity (Lynch et.al, 2012). Each of these factors will contribute to the effectiveness of specific protocols that are designed to encourage high quality care and treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as patients’ ability to achieve effective self-management over the condition in their daily lives (Lynch et.al, 2012). Diabetes self-management requires a high level of support and understanding of the condition in order to improve overall health and wellbeing (Lynch et.al, 2012).

Type 2 diabetes in the African American population also represents a serious set of challenges for healthcare providers, as they are often unable to perform outreach in the desired manner due to constraints that impact healthcare outcomes within the affected communities. These factors have a critical impact on patient care and wellbeing and may severely limit access to care and treatment for many patients who face the risk of untreated type 2 diabetes and potentially serious complications. Mortality rates within the African American population with respect to type 2 diabetes are fairly high when access to treatment services is low, given the challenges of treating this population due to limited access and knowledge of the problem (Conway, May, & Blot, 2012). From this perspective, it is important to demonstrate the value of addressing mortality rates for African Americans with respect to type 2 diabetes. This condition reflects the need to develop new strategies that will improve outcomes residents of these communities through expanded resources and interventions that will support these communities on a larger scale (Conway et.al, 2012). It is expected that these interventions will have a significant impact on patient care outcomes and in demonstrating the significance of this issue for the African American population (Conway et.al, 2012).

Adolescents who are at risk for or who have type 2 diabetes within the African American population face many critical challenge that require an understanding of the severity of this condition and how it impacts patient care and wellbeing (Auslander, Sterzing, Zayas, & White, 2010). From this perspective, it is known that “one recent follow-up study of adults with early-onset type 2 diabetes indicated that this form of diabetes appears to be more aggressive, with patients exhibiting twice the number of cardiovascular complications than their counterparts with adult-onset type 2 diabetes” (Auslander et.al, 2010, p. 614). Therefore, this condition is particularly challenging for adolescents who face a greater risk of type 2 diabetes as a result of poor diet, limited exercise, and other related risk factors, such as race, ethnicity, and lack of knowledge regarding these risks and their overall impact (Auslander et.al, 2010). Under these conditions, it is important to recognize the value of improving resources for this population, as well as in addressing the concerns that are prevalent in supporting effective treatment outcomes for younger patients with type 2 diabetes, as this condition may have debilitating side effects and complications that could increase over time and cause even greater concern during the adult years (Auslander et.al, 2010).

Type 2 diabetes in the African American population requires a critical understanding of the condition and its overall impact on patient care and wellbeing. Many patients who have type 2 diabetes who are currently receiving treatment do not always effectively adhere to the requirements set forth by the treatment team (Bailey & Kodack, 2011). This process, therefore, is particularly challenging for many African Americans, as they are unable to adhere to these requirements, perhaps because they do not recognize the severity of the condition and its impact on their lives (Bailey & Kodack, 2011). This is a difficult challenge for many patients to address because this diagnosis places a strain on their quality of life and they may be unwilling to accept the diagnosis at any age (Bailey & Kodack, 2011).This problem, therefore, is significant and plays a role in shaping health-related outcomes for many people who face additional risks if they are not properly diagnosed and treated in a timely manner (Bailey & Kodack, 2011). Regardless of the type of treatment that is recommended, patients must be provided with a framework that supports their diagnosis and their ability to improve their quality of life; therefore, it is expected that patients will respond favorably when they are provided with the tools that are necessary to achieve greater medication adherence for this condition (Bailey & Kodack, 2011). When medications are not taken on a regular basis, this places an even further strain on the ability of patients to address the condition in a timely and effective manner that will meet their needs accordingly (Bailey & Kodack, 2011).Therefore, healthcare providers must offer education and insight regarding the development of new perspectives to address medication adherence as an essential component of care and treatment for type 2 diabetes (Bailey & Kodack, 2011).

Since many African Americans with type 2 diabetes are not properly treated and in a timely manner, it is necessary to develop new strategies that will address the complexities of the disease in a timely manner in order to achieve the desired treatment outcomes. This reflects a necessity to improve diagnostic capabilities within this population group and to recognize the significance of treating patients in a timely manner to meet their needs accordingly (Ricci-Cabello et.al, 2013). African Americans with type 2 diabetes must receive the chosen treatment methods as early as possible so that there are sufficient opportunities to achieve growth and success with the chosen treatment regimen (Ricci-Cabello et.al, 2013). This process also reflects the importance of developing new perspectives to address type 2 diabetes in a timely fashion in order to prevent further unnecessary complications for patients (Ricci-Cabello et.al, 2013). The creation of a viable protocol to ensure that African Americans receive treatment in accordance with established guidelines must also be available, while also considering the challenges of this population and its health-related needs, particularly in low-income areas where many of these patients reside (Ricci-Cabello et.al, 2013).

Conclusion

Type 2 diabetes is highly prevalent within the African American community; therefore, it is important to address this problem in greater detail and in accordance with established frameworks for education, treatment, and overall care. These factors will support the development of new perspectives to ensure that patient care outcomes are achieved and that this population is not neglected due to lack of access or other concerns. This population group must receive treatment in a timely manner so that its needs are met in accordance with the creation of new programmatic efforts to reach disadvantaged areas with a renewed focus. This process will encourage patients to obtain care and to maintain their own level of self-management in a timely manner in order to achieve effective treatment results and improve glycemic control and fewer symptoms.

References

Auslander, W. F., Sterzing, P. R., Zayas, L. E., & White, N. H. (2010). Psychosocial Resources

and Barriers to Self-management in African American Adolescents With Type 2 Diabetes A Qualitative Analysis. The Diabetes Educator, 36(4), 613-622.

Bailey, C. J., & Kodack, M. (2011). Patient adherence to medication requirements for therapy of type 2 diabetes. International journal of clinical practice, 65(3), 314-322.

Bray, P., Cummings, D. M., Morrissey, S., Thompson, D., Holbert, D., Wilson, K., … & Tanenberg, R. (2013). Improved outcomes in diabetes care for rural African Americans. The Annals of Family Medicine, 11(2), 145-150.

Conway, B. N., May, M. E., & Blot, W. J. (2012). Mortality among low-income African Americans and whites with diabetes. Diabetes care, 35(11), 2293-2299.

Lynch, E. B., Fernandez, A., Lighthouse, N., Mendenhall, E., & Jacobs, E. (2012). Concepts of diabetes self-management in Mexican American and African American low-income patients with diabetes. Health education research, 27(5), 814-824.

Ricci-Cabello, I., Ruiz-Pérez, I., Nevot-Cordero, A., Rodríguez-Barranco, M., Sordo, L., & Gonçalves, D. C. (2013). Health Care Interventions to Improve the Quality of Diabetes Care in African Americans A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes care, 36(3), 760-768.