Secondary Prevention of Diabetes Complications
Diabetes is one of the most widespread diseases in the United States. A high number of risk factors and potential complications make this illness especially dangerous. Secondary prevention is the detection of the disease on an early stage and managing it to avoid complications. In large part, responsibility for successful treatments lies on patients themselves. Therefore, the community should learn how to manage diabetes without professional assistance. Mass ignorance exists due to unawareness. The best approach to community teaching is showcasing how lack of secondary preventions can substantially lower the quality of life.
Identified Population and Community Setting
The primary population constituting the audience of this community teaching are adults and people older than sixty years who either have diabetes or have a high risk of developing this disease. There are two attributes to this category. The first is that patients with diabetes usually have a genetic predisposition to it. The second attribute is an unhealthy lifestyle, which increases the chances of contracting diabetes. The community setting is the Adult Day Care Center, yet this teaching plan also applies to hospitals and clinics with a high influx of diabetes patients. Educating them on managing diabetes will help healthcare organizations deliver the treatment.
Individual Education to Diverse Patient Populations
As motivation is essential in effective learning, the community should realize how important it is to manage diabetes on one’s own. The goal is to enable all learners to recognize the warning signs of the disease in time and react to them appropriately. Depending on their medical history, genetic predispositions, lifestyle choice, people will be able to make appropriate changes to their lives (Skinner et al., 2003). For instance, older patients find it necessary to refrain from sugar rich beverages, while younger adults will be encouraged to cease smoking (Dornhorst & Merrin 1994). Once people know that these habits precipitate the disease, they will be motivated to control them.
Options for Delivery
Teaching itself will be performed with the use of multimedia materials as well as practical session. Images and videos will help emphasize that ignoring diabetes can lead to chronic kidney disease, foot problems, eye damage, heart problems, and even a stroke (Deshpande et al., 2008). On practical sessions, the community will be taught how to measure blood sugar level with a glucometer. Also, the lecture format will be used to explain the importance of a healthy lifestyle and regular check-ups. Combined together, these methods will comprise the entirety of teaching activities, which will help the community manage diabetes.
References
Deshpande, A. D., Harris-Hayes, M., & Schootman, M. (2008). Epidemiology of diabetes and diabetes-related complications. Physical Therapy, 88(11), 1254-1264. Web.
Dornhorst, A., & Merrin, P. K. (1994). Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 70(826), 529-535.
Skinner, T. C., Cradock, S., Arundel, F., & Graham, W. (2003). Four theories and a philosophy: Self-management education for individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Spectrum, 16(2), 75-80.