The Epidemic of Diabetes, Essay Example

Introduction

Diabetes is a complex and challenging chronic disease that is represented by a serious number of symptoms and complications throughout the course of the condition. It is necessary to develop an improved understanding of the disease and how it impacts patient health and wellbeing for those who are affected. The disease impacts each patient in different ways and requires an examination of the key variables that influence how each patient responds to treatment and education regarding the disease. Diabetes must be further examined in order to be effective in treating the different symptoms and complications of the disease and the quality of life of those who are affected. Understanding the nature of the epidemic and how it influences patient outcomes is an essential component of the educational process, along with recognizing the risk factors and what steps are required to prevent the disease in as many patients as possible. There must be a greater emphasis on understanding the complexities of diabetes and in encouraging patients to conduct health-related behaviors that will positively impact their health and wellbeing.

Body

Diabetes-based education requires an understanding of the key factors that contribute to the risk of the disease and what is required to conduct effective self-management for affected patients. One of the considerations of this process is to recognize the value of enabling patients who require insulin therapy to administer their own injections in a timely manner in order to prevent spikes in blood sugar levels that may impact patient health. Nurses and other healthcare providers must educate patients regarding insulin administration and how this benefits their quality of life and supports the stabilization of blood sugar levels. In particular, younger persons with diabetes must have the appropriate education in order to self-medicate as needed and to be successful in working towards stabilizing their blood sugar levels as best as possible (Washington State, 2014). There are many critical areas that are affected by a diagnosis of diabetes, including but not limited to mental health, organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys, the eyes, and the limbs, such as the hands and feet. Each of these areas requires the appropriate level of attention and focus in order to be successful in treating the areas which are most affected by the disease over time (Washington State, 2014). There must be a greater emphasis on understanding the nature of the disease and how it requires a coordinated level of care and treatment that is effective in meeting the requirements of patient care and treatment for a given population group who is able to perform self-care (Washington State, 2014).

In the home environment, educating patients regarding the challenges and risks related to diabetes is a critical component in supporting an effective care and treatment strategy that will enhance the quality of their lives and support a greater understanding of the disease state and what is required to minimize symptom risk and long-term complications (Washington State, 2014). Diabetes self-management is comprised of a number of key factors that impact patient care and which support factors such as the ability to recognize symptoms, self-testing for glucose levels, and timely administration of treatments in order to enhance the quality of life of patients (Garcia, Brown, Horner, Zuniga, & Arheart, 2015). For a program of this nature, the target population would involve younger adults who have recently been diagnosed with diabetes and who are not yet familiar with the concepts that are required to protect themselves from further risk or harm. This population would best benefit from an educational program that is based in their local community in order to provide a sense of familiarity that will further enhance their experience and provide support in order to bridge any gaps regarding understanding the disease and how it impacts quality of life for these patients.

The educational program in question requires a unique understanding of the challenges associated with diabetes and how it influences quality of life. Most importantly, patients as learners must be able to identify the key principles of diabetes and what is required to facilitate a positive and meaningful set of experiences that will impact their health in a positive manner. Learners must be evaluated after acquiring the aforementioned education so that their needs will be fully met and if necessary, additional education may be provided. Learners must also be evaluated in order to provide feedback regarding the educational program so that it will be most effective for future groups of students. Each learner must be able to take away information that will aid in his or her daily life in order to better manage the challenges of diabetes and to address the importance of managing symptoms and minimizing complications as best as possible. Diabetes self-manage must serve as a critical area of focus because healthcare providers do not see diabetic patients on a daily basis; therefore, they must learn how to effectively manage the disease and care for themselves on a regular basis in order to minimize complications. The disease is characterized by a gradual decline in different organs and systems when sound control is not achieved; therefore, efforts must be made in order to address these issues more closely and to identify areas of weakness within the educational program that require continuous improvement for patients.

The topic of diabetes was chosen for further analysis because of the epidemic nature of the disease and the level of risk that currently exists throughout the general population. Poor dietary habits, limited physical activity, and other factors contribute to the overall risks that are associated with diabetes and its impact on quality of life for patients across many different cultures, ethnicities, and age groups. It is important to address the specific challenges of the condition and to recognize how to best manage disease-related risks in order to prevent disease development. However, for patients who have already been diagnosed with the disease, it is important to identify areas whereby they are able to understand the nature of the disease and its impact on organs and systems in order to minimize symptoms and to improve quality of life for these patients. Most importantly, a diabetes education program must demonstrate knowledge and expertise that will have a positive and lasting impact on the population who is selected for further guidance. It is important for diabetes education to support the needs of the affected patient populations because the nature of the disease is often poorly understood.

The nature of diabetes-related education must be based upon an understanding of the causes of the disease and how it impacts body systems in different ways. At the same time, education must reflect upon the risks associated with the disease, the symptoms that are often experienced, and the possible efforts that are made to minimize symptoms and related complications as best as possible. There must be a greater emphasis on the development of educational programs that target specific age groups and which support their needs that include care and treatment at different levels. Diabetes self-care is a critical issue that requires further consideration and analysis because it is largely influenced by the ability of patients to achieve the desired results and to stabilize their blood sugar levels on a consistent basis. This requires an examination of the need for glucose testing and the overall development of new perspectives to accommodate patient needs effectively and in a consistent manner.

Nurses and other educators must be properly trained and possess expert knowledge and the appropriate resources in order to achieve the desired outcomes regarding self-management. There must be a significant emphasis on the development of new factors that are used to improve the lives of patients by addressing matters directly related to quality of life. It is important to emphasize the value of self-management for diabetes patients because it enables them to have greater control over the disease and to recognize the value of supporting an educational dynamic that will encourage patients to understand their disease and how it impacts their quality of life in different ways. This process is essential in order to effectively manage the context of care and treatment for patients with diabetes that includes a strong emphasis on self-care and the recognition of changes that may influence changes in organs and systems and in overall quality of life. It is important for educators to emphasize the value of self-management in promoting positive health and in preventing further complications related to the disease that may influence health outcomes.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a serious epidemic throughout the world, but its prevalence in advanced countries is substantial and requires further evaluation and focus, particularly in younger population groups where the disease risk has become increasingly significant in recent years. Educational programs for diabetes patients must target different areas, including symptom recognition, treatment alternatives, and self-management, the latter of which is a necessary issue that must be addressed within the context of a comprehensive care and treatment plan. Diabetes education that addresses self-management is essential to the discovery of new ideas and approaches to improve quality of life for patients across different population groups and to be successful in minimizing symptoms over the short term and complications over the long term. These factors must demonstrate the value of education that involves expert knowledge and resource utilization regarding diabetes that will acknowledge the critical nature of the disease, its epidemic status in many areas of the world, and the overall development of new factors that may be considered in order to effectively support patients and promote positive outcomes and improved quality of life.

References

Garcia, A.A., Brown, S.A., Horner, S.D., Zuniga, J., & Arheart, K.L. (2015). Home-based diabetes self-management education for Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes. Health Education Research, 30(3), 484-496.

Washington State (2014). Diabetes epidemic & action report. Retrieved from http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/345-342-DiabetesEpidemicActionReport.pdf