Introduction:
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder; in diabetes mellitus the body has trouble moving glucose, a type of sugar, from the blood into the cells, which leads to high levels of glucose in the blood and not enough of it in the cells. The origin of energy for a cell is glucose; due to metabolic disturbance cell does not get energy in the form of glucose instead of the availability of glucose. People with various socioeconomic statuses and racial and ethnic minorities received varied care and treatments needed to cure the disease. These are just two ways that health disparities impact the disease.
Is Diabetes a Health Disparity?
The population in the backward areas with low socioeconomic status, such as the homeless population, can be very vulnerable to health disparities, especially when receiving quality healthcare to treat a chronic illness such as diabetes. Almost 10 percent of the United States. The population has diabetes; It can become even more difficult to have a chronic illness such as diabetes and to receive the correct treatment and nourishing foods for the body.
Most homeless shelters accept and distribute non-perishable food, which can be high in salt and problematic to individuals with diabetes and can lead to hypertension. The local organization homeless helping this specific organization will accept these donations to distribute to the population in hopes of improving the health of the homeless; this solution aims at the community level of the social-ecological model because this, as a whole, improves the health communication plan.
What Are the Health Disparities Among Racial/Ethnic Groups That Exist in Diabetes?
Diabetes is one of the seventh leading causes of death, accounting for more than 80 % of the mortality rate among blacks and other minority populations. The chances of getting diabetes are 33 % higher in Black and minority ethnic groups in the United Kingdom than in white populations.
The higher chance of getting diabetes in the different racial and ethnic groups is due to the amount of fat deposition in the middle region (abdomen) of the body, that is, the waist and the fat which is disposited is the visceral fat, poor access to the healthcare system, a variable environmental condition in different geographical area and the environmental conditions play a very important role in the development of diabetes.
The other most important risk factor which leads to diabetes mellitus is obesity (overweight), sedimentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activities, and stress. Effective management is necessary for improved outcomes for people with diabetes. Racial and ethnic differences can also act as roadblocks to efficient disease management.
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The ability of members to afford their prescription costs.
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Awareness: Understanding available treatments, the healthcare system, and the importance of adherence.
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Accessibility: The convenience of receiving healthcare and treatment needs through available sources and vicinity to those services.
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Trust: The level of security and assurance patients have in their access to healthcare.
The chances of complications like retinopathy, nephropathy, and dyslipidemia are also higher in black and minority ethnic groups in the UK than in white populations. This inequality in the distribution of the disease and its complication is due to unequal access to care, including testing (HbA1c) and the line of treatment.
What Are the Programs Targeting Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?
Many governments and non-government organizations are working worldwide to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes mellitus. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), overseen by the CDC, is a collaboration of public and private organizations that provides an affordable, evidence-based program for lifestyle modification to assist persons with prediabetes in preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes. Participants in the program learn how to choose healthier foods, get more exercise, and develop coping mechanisms for difficulties and stress while working with a certified lifestyle coach. These alterations to their way of life can reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 58 % (71% for those over 60).
Even though the lifestyle modification program is accessible everywhere, enrollment among particular populations with a significant risk of developing type 2 is low.
CDC assists national organizations in launching and maintaining programs in locales with limited resources that address health disparities to boost participation among these populations. Telehealth is one of them, which plays an important role in providing access to healthcare despite the distance.
Telehealth can improve access to and participation in the National DPP lifestyle modification program. The training can be delivered in places with restricted access using telehealth technology like phones, smartphone apps, laptops, and videos. Telehealth is now a viable option for addressing the barriers preventing certain individuals from registering in the program due to recent technological advancements.
Telehealth has the following benefits:
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More people can participate in telehealth programs than in conventional in-person programs.
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Access for those who live in rural regions or other regions with limited resources is improved by telehealth technology, which is less constrained by time and distance restrictions.
Conclusion:
This chronic disease affects our body's metabolic system and the disparity in health due to diversity in the environment and socioeconomic status worldwide, which affects eating habits and leads to more complications in blacks. The different surroundings may cause diabetes discrepancies between races that African Americans and whites experience regarding health risks. To overcome this major issue, many organizations have come to a plan.
Early testing (HbA1c), prompt treatment, regular follow-up, good lifestyle, and good eating habits will help the population get over the disease. As soon as one feels any of the symptoms mentioned above or have any genetic history, then, without any delay, connect with the doctor and get the testing and treatment done without further delay; it will prevent from landing into complications.
