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You probably know that type 2 diabetes has change into a significant health problem within the United States of America (USA) and the remainder of the world.
People with type 2 diabetes cannot efficiently use glucose (sugar) from food as an energy source. As a result, blood sugar levels are higher than normal. Over time, this may cause serious and even fatal complications corresponding to heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. Persistent high blood sugar may cause problems that interfere with quality of life, including vision changes, leg pain on account of nerve damage (neuropathy), and infections that don't heal quickly.
It is estimated that 415 million adults on this planet suffer from diabetes and by 2040 this number will increase to 642 million! It is a large problem each due to the number of individuals affected in addition to the results if it will not be properly controlled. Of the 30.3 million adults within the US with diabetes, 23.1 million of them knew that they had the disease and seven.2 million didn't! Even more alarming is the big variety of people who find themselves pre-diabetic, a stage through which sugar levels are high and really near those considered pre-diabetes. . In 2015, an estimated 84.1 million people over the age of 18 within the United States had prediabetes.
Certain populations are particularly vulnerable to diabetes and its complications.
If all these statistics are discouraging, the situation is even worse for racial and ethnic minorities in America. Latinos/Hispanics, African Americans, American Indians, Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders, Arab Americans, and Asian Americans are at increased risk for diabetes and its complications.
Because? There are genetic aspects that affect each the power of the pancreas to provide enough insulin in addition to the way it responds to it. In addition, a few of these groups tend to build up fat within the abdomen (abdominal obesity). This can result in metabolic changes that increase the danger of diabetes, heart disease and other disorders. In these groups, inadequate food regimen and insufficient physical activity are common aspects that contribute to obese or obesity, which in turn increases the danger of developing type 2 diabetes and there are other non-medical aspects that contribute to its development and/or Lack of timely diagnosis affects. There are many aspects related to the disease corresponding to low socioeconomic level, low level of education and health literacy, some cultural features and limited access to health services amongst many members of those populations.
what can we do?
If we stop at this story, you will likely be left with the impression that these groups are solely answerable for the severity of your health problems and there will not be much we will do about it. But it will not be so. We can and will recognize disparities in the kinds and quality of health services offered to those groups that will influence the event and course of diseases corresponding to diabetes.
In 1999, the US Congress commissioned the Institute of Medicine to look at potential disparities in health care amongst different racial and ethnic groups. The aim was to discover the aspects that contribute to such disparities and thus develop strategies to scale back them.
This research report, Unequal Treatment: Addressing Health Disparities Among Different Racial/Ethnic Groups, found that racial/ethnic minority groups had lower quality of care in health services, even after controlling for the influence of things corresponding to access to health services, economic income, age, and severity of varied medical conditions. This study shows that these minority groups are also less prone to receive routine medical procedures. They also generally receive lower quality care in the realm of ​​diabetes and other related diseases.
The first step to solving these health problems is to lift awareness amongst most people, health care providers and systems, medical insurance firms, and legislators. It is of particular importance for health care providers to discover the biological, social, psychological, economic, and cultural aspects that influence the event and course of diabetes and other diseases and prevention for these groups. And routinely consider them when developing treatment programs.
We have achieved lots within the fight against diabetes. However, as we proceed our collective effort to enhance the lives of individuals with diabetes and people prone to developing it, we must not forget that there are particular groups that we want to succeed in out to specifically. Should. It's just doing the fitting thing.
Dr. Caballero recently received special recognition from the Boston Mayor's Office for her unwavering commitment and continued work to enhance the health of the Latino/Hispanic population.