Summary & Final Thoughts

Based on U.S. statistics, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2011), which shows why type 2 diabetes continues to pose a great threat to the health of our nation.  African Americans represent one of the minority populations most significantly impacted by this deadly epidemic, and although type 2 diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death nationally it represents the fifth leading cause of death for African Americans.  Higher rates of diabetes-related complications, such as diabetic blindness, end stage renal disease, and lower extremity amputations occur in African Americans.  Additionally, the high risk health behaviors that contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, including high fat/high caloric diet, lack of physical activity, and obesity are prominent in the African American population, which makes it a primary population to target with diabetes education and prevention measures.

The focus of my blog was to increase awareness regarding the type 2 diabetes epidemic, and illustrate the significance of the this health issue in the African American community.  Symptom focused diabetes self-management is common in minority populations with limited means, but it is not effective in minimizing the health consequences of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.  My goal was to use this blog to highlight the importance of type 2 diabetes self-management behaviors, such as regular blood glucose monitoring, consuming a healthy diet, participating in regular physical activity, and following through with routine medical appointments.  Also, I hope I was able to convey the tremendous need for increased health education and intervention measures, as well as resources to manage the disease, in rural and underserved African American communities in order to reduce type 2 diabetes prevalence.  As a health educator, I believe continuing with this blog will serve as a highly useful tool in future efforts to promote type 2 diabetes awareness.  

Reference

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (2011). 2011 National diabetes factsheet. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/estimates11.htm

Controversial Topic: Bariatric Surgery - A Cure for Type 2 Diabetes?

Is Bariatric Surgery Really the Answer?

The incidence of type 2 diabetes continues to increase worldwide with no immediate remedy on the horizon.  Addressing or alleviating some of the potential risk factors for type 2 diabetes has become the prevailing strategy for combating this ever-increasing epidemic.  Overweight and obesity is one of the leading risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and along with diet and exercise it is one of the most common risk factors targeted for delaying onset or controlling the disease in those diagnosed (American Diabetes Association, 2012).  Since 90% of all diabetics are overweight or obese, this is clearly an area of great concern.  Bariatric surgeries to facilitate weight loss, such as gastric bypass, laproscopic adjustable gastric banding (lap band), and gastric sleeve surgery, are now being proposed as a means of curing or resolving type 2 diabetes prevalence (Science Daily, 2009). 

Evidence reveals that diabetes does go away for some people following gastric bypass surgery, in some cases even before significant weight loss (Science Daily, 2012).  Is this a lasting effect and does it mean that the individual has been cured of type 2 diabetes?  Buchwald et al. (2009) established that clinical and laboratory manifestations of type 2 diabetes are resolved or improved in the majority of patients following bariatric surgery, but there was no indication of long lasting effects.  In fact, a recent study revealed that "although gastric bypass surgery reverses type 2 diabetes in a large percentage of obese patients, the disease recurs in about 21% of them within 3-5 years" (Science Daily, 2012, para. 1), which indicates that the long-term effects of the procedure are questionable at best. 

Although there is an established link between weight loss and diabetes management, does it mean that we have reached a point where drastic measures are seen as the only solution? Comparing the cost of bariatric surgery with long-term diabetes care might lead many to support bariatric surgery as a legitimate way to reduce type 2 diabetes prevalence, but one must also consider if that would be merely trading one problem for another?  According to  Arterburn et al. (2012), improvements in risk factor reduction and lifestyle changes in diabetics have not lowered the most significant diabetes-related outcomes: heart attacks, strokes, and deaths.  This leaves us to ponder the following question:  What is the real solution to the type 2 diabetes epidemic?

References

American Diabetes Association (2012). Your risk: Who is at greater risk for type 2 diabetes? Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/risk-factors/

Arterburn, D. E., Bogar, A., Sherwood, S. S., Coleman, K. J., Haneuse, S., O'Connor, P. J. ...Selby, J. (2012). A multisite study of long-term remission and relapse of type 2 diabetes mellitus following gastric bypass. Obesity Surgery. doi:10.1007/s11695-012-0802-1

Buchwald, H., Estok, R., Fahrback, K., Banel, D., Jensen, M. D., Pories, W. J., & Sledge, I. (2009). Weight and type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery: Systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Medicine, 122(3), 248-256.e5. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.09.041

Science Daily (2009). Potential for resolving type 2 diabetes with bariatric surgery. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090303082809.htm

Science Daily (2012). Gastric bypass surgery helps diabetes but doesn't cure it, study suggests. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126142957.htm

World Diabetes Day

Diabetes is recognized as a dangerous epidemic affecting populations in significant numbers, both here in the U.S. and abroad.  In order to truly combat this rising global health problem, worldwide awarenss measures are among the primary tools utilized.  Wednesday, November 14, is World Diabetes Day (World Health Organization [WHO], 2012).  There are an estimated 346 million people worldwide with diabetes and this number is expected to double by the year 2030, without effective education and intervention strategies (WHO, 2012).  The World Diabetes Day awareness campaign outlines the ever-increasing international rates of diabetes, the economic impact of diabetes, and describes ways to prevent diabetes-related complications.  There are numerous resources available to facilitate diabetes awareness in your area on World Diabetes Day.  Materials include:

• posters
• campaign booklets that provide an overview of the campaign
• day booklets expressing the campaign theme
• promotional items (bracelets, flags, pins, t-shirts, waist measuring tape)
• videos promoting the World Diabetes Day message
• online resources for assessing type 2 diabetes risk, glycemic control, and healthy food choices (International Diabetes Federation, 2011)

The sheer number of people with type 2 diabetes means that eventually each one of us will have someone we know and love affected by this health condition.  It is important that we arm ourselves with the information and resources necessary to help reduce type 2 diabetes prevalence.  Acknowleding and participating in World Diabetes Day is one way of doing just that.

References

International Diabetes Federation (2011). Diabetes: Protect our future. Retrieved from http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/

World Health Organization (2012). World Diabetes Day. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_diabetes_day/en/index.html
 

Diabetes PSA

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among African Americans is nearly double the rate estimated in the general population of the U.S.  Rates of long-term complications from type 2 diabetes are much higher among African Americans due to poor glycemic control, low health literacy, high rates of poverty, and/or limited access to health care.  Diabetes is a disease that requires consistent self-management to prevent such complications as visual impairment, kidney disease, and leg amputations.  Individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can control the disease and reduce complications by controlling blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention [CDC], 2012).

Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death for the nation, but it represents the 5th leading cause of death for African Americans.  Placing greater emphasis on diabetes self-management (DSM) for those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and emphasizing prevention in at risk individuals, are key factors for reducing diabetes prevalence.  Prevention strategies include controlling risk factors such as diet, physical activity, and weight.

 

 

A study by Utz et al. (2008) identified many of the challenges and barriers that must be overcome to provide much needed diabetes self-management education (DSME) and prevention services in the African American population, particularly in rural settings.  Primary barriers include poor health care service availability, a minimal number of trained specialists in rural areas, cost of care, lack of knowledge about accessing services, complex diabetes self-care instructions, and shame or stigma associated with diabetes.  The next phase of the study addressed the researchers' main goal of assessing if an individual educational approach or culturally relevant group intervention worked best in rural African American populations.  The study revealed that group DSME led to greater compliance with preventive behaviors such as diet and exercise, as compared to individual intervention.  Additionally, group participants exhibited a greater level of confidence in their ability to manage their diabetic condition (Utz et al., 2008).  For health educators, the results of this study revealed potential obstacles to diabetes education, while further illustrating the importance of determining the best setting and method of delivery for reaching a priority population with an intervention.

 

References

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Black or African American populations: 10 leading causes of death for African Americans in 2009. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMP/black.html

 

Utz, S. W., Williams, I. C., Jones, R., Hinton, I., Alexander, G., Yan, G., ... Oliver, M. N. (2008). Culturally tailored intervention for rural African Americans with type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Educator, 34, 854-865. doi:10.1177/0145721708323642

 



 

 

Jamerson Diabetes Prevention Intro

Hello everyone.  Welcome to my Diabetes Prevention Blog.

I have chosen to address the issue of type 2 diabetes prevention in African Americans age 45-64.  Type 2 diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing African Americans, which is reflected in the disproportionate rates at which this population is affected.  The numerous years I spent working with patients experiencing diabetic complications, and watching very close friends struggle with diabetes self-management, is what made me passionate about this health topic.  Health care costs associated with diabetes are in excess of $100 billion, which further underscores the need to for increased emphasis on diabetes prevention.  As a health educator, my desire is to aid others in improving their overall quality of life, and I believe helping to reduce diabetes prevalence and its associated complications in the African American community is an excellent place to start.