Discussion 3 Diabetes HLTH 2302
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Dec 6, 2023
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Discussion 3: Diabetes Jaila Stanley
Prairie View A&M University HLTH 2302-Z01: Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases
Dr. Olympia Pierre
October 27, 2022
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body responds to glucose. A major energy
source for our bodies’ cells. It is a chronic condition that is a risk factor for one of the leading causes of death in the United States, heart disease. It is also the seventh leading cause of death, itself. About every one in ten Americans, over 37 million people in the United States have diabetes. About 90-95% of those individuals have type II diabetes. Type II diabetes comes about from either the body being resistant to insulin, or the body not producing enough of its own insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas to help allow glucose to enter the cells. In individuals with type II diabetes, their insulin hormones are “resistant”, leaving elevated levels of glucose in the blood stream. This can lead to other serious health issues including heart attacks, kidney failure, strokes, blindness, and can also lead to lower limb amputation. Among the symptoms are excessive hunger and thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, infections, etc. There are several risk factors that can predispose one to type II diabetes. Type II Diabetes is a condition that can affect anyone of any background or age group. Certain risk factors do include: being over the age of 45, being overweight or obese, family history of diabetes, physically inactive, having had gestational diabetes, and being an African American, Hispanic or Latino,
American Indian, or Alaskan Native person. The condition of type II diabetes itself can be prevented or delayed if an individual can eat healthy foods and maintain an active lifestyle. Which leads us to ask why do these certain factors such as ethnicity, race, and weight cause an increased risk for type II diabetes? Firstly, the prevalence of type II diabetes is steadily increasing. The CDC estimates that the data for diabetes is underreported and predicts that by 2025, every one in five Americans will have diabetes. Secondly, if diet and physical activity are among the main risk factors for diabetes, that can tell us about the increase in prevalence. Obesity is another increasing risk factor that is a cause for concern in the United States. The American diet has changed significantly in the past 70 years, with an increase in meat consumptions, added fats, and bigger portions. That combined with a lack of exercise has led to an increase in obesity and in turn is one of the factors that has possibly led to the increased prevalence of diabetes. Finally, minorities, especially African American minorities are affected by diabetes at a disproportionate rate. African American adults are 60 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than their Caucasian counterparts. Biological risk factors can attest for most of the health disparity. However, the underlying issue is “under resourced neighborhoods, poverty, lack of access to healthy foods, restrictions on safe physical activity, inadequate employment, and limited educational opportunities.” (Northwestern Medicine, 2022) These social disparities within these communities can lead to poor nutrition. Thus, leading to an increase of prevalence and disproportionate diagnosis of diabetes across minority groups. Decreasing the prevalence of diabetes doesn’t start with treatment or even biological factors. It starts with socioeconomic, psychosocial, environmental, etc. factors. Every individual has the potential to live a healthy life, free from disease but minority and low socioeconomic
communities are affected the most by this condition. Where there is a lack of resources, care, and
education to do so. It makes it extremely difficult to do so. I believe that closing the socioeconomic gap, fighting for policy change and public health interventions, will allow those individuals who lack resources to properly care for themselves. It starts with advocation and education.
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References
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