In the United States, diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease. The primary triggers of this health issue are the social determinants of health (SDOH). Some of the examples of SDOH include education, income, occupation, access to healthcare, and social support (Lenzi, 2018). These factors directly influence the peoples’ lifestyle and are the reason for the variation in health indicators between the two settings.
Rural settlements experience negative SDOH, which influences poor lifestyle habits, contributing to diabetes. Poverty is an example of a negative SDOH that contributes to adverse conditions. For instance, low living standards reduce purchasing power, which means that individuals have to live by what is available and not what is recommended (Hill-Briggs et al., 2021). Therefore, recommendations such as cutting on sugars and fatty foods fail to be considered in such an environment.
It is confirmed that in poverty-stricken homes, affording a balanced diet may be unattainable considering the fact that it is expensive. Therefore, people feed on whatever is available, which sometimes may not be healthy (Hill-Briggs et al., 2021). For instance, whole grain bread is a low-calorie starch that is expensive. Therefore, people who cannot afford this healthy alternative have to feed on white bread, which is less expensive but is processed, high in calories, and added sugars, contributing to excessive weight gain.
Comparison of States
Urban areas such as New York City are more advantaged because of the generous resource allocation, better transport systems, social amenities, and modern functional systems that enhance operational processes. In addition, people living in such areas earn better salaries than workers in remote areas, giving them the freedom to do whatever they need. This pay inequality creates a gap in access to essential services such as healthcare, since the less disadvantaged may not afford to pay for these services (Walker et al., 2016). As indicated in the report, persons with health insurance in Georgia were less likely to have recurring obesity because they could access healthcare services without any limitations.
The transport system is enhanced in New York City than in Georgia, making it easier for residents to access care when the need arises, unlike their counterparts dealing with logistic issues that delay healthcare (Walker et al., 2016). Lastly, education systems in the urban areas impact the students positively because they have enough qualified teachers and learning materials that enhance students’ exposure and intelligence, which helps with rational decision making.
Main Issues to be Addressed
Education is one of the most efficient mitigation tools to curb diabetes in rural areas. The reason is that most people develop diabetes because of their ignorance of lifestyle watch. Therefore, education focused on instilling self-management skills should be promoted because it enhances decision-making and exposure, ensuring individuals can stay safe (Lenzi, 2018). For instance, the government should consider allocating more resources to reach these underserved communities to ensure that every student gets the best education. Moreover, education supports economic and social advancement, an integral factor in diabetes management.
Another issue to be addressed is poverty because, despite the rural settlers focusing on agriculture, their economic status is low, which is a significant contributor to diabetes. As mentioned, when people experience financial constraints, adhering to the nutritional recommendation becomes difficult (Lenzi, 2018). Economic empowerment can be achieved by developing industries to encourage commercial farming, digital farming, and innovation to promote profitability. Unrestricted access to healthcare services is another recommendation suitable for curbing diabetes. The Georgia health data dashboard indicates that diabetes prevalence stands at 14.3 for uninsured individuals (Georgia Department of Public Health, 2018). Therefore, universal care plans should be considered to ensure patients can quality care services. Further, proper staffing, local partnerships, and access to digitalized medical systems will help patients access better services.
References
Lenzi, A (2018). Diabetes and Obesity. In E., Bonora, & R. A. DeFronzo, (Eds.). Diabetes complications, comorbidities and related disorders (pp. 1-50). Springer.
Georgia Department of Public Health. (2018). Diabetes. Web.
Hill-Briggs, F., Adler, N. E., Berkowitz, S. A., Chin, M. H., Gary-Webb, T. L., Navas-Acien, A., & Haire-Joshu, D. (2021). Social determinants of health and diabetes: a scientific review. Diabetes Care, 44(1), 258-279. Web.
Walker, R. J., Williams, J. S., & Egede, L. E. (2016). Influence of race, ethnicity and social determinants of health on diabetes outcomes. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 351(4), 366-373. Web.