Introduction
Today, diabetes is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the United States. 37.3 million Americans, or 11.3% of the nation, had diabetes in 2019 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). This is a pressing issue for the nation, especially for nurses and doctors, who should be aware of this disease and its impact on patients. Moreover, they have a responsibility to control the spread of the disease.
Discussion
Although recent studies show a decrease in the incidence rate, diabetes is still a significant health threat. For example, in 2015, it ranked seventh in terms of mortality in the United States (Pflanzer, 2017). A map of the distribution of diagnosed patients with diabetes shows that the disease is dominant in southern states near the east, like Ohio and Kentucky (Pflanzer, 2017). This reason may be because these states also have a high level of obesity among the population, as well as the most negligible inactivity of the inhabitants of these states (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Nutritional education is crucial for patients with diabetes to maintain proper glycemic control, whether provided in a hospital environment or in the community. It supports patients’ independence in the treatment of their ailments and works to dispel conventional notions about nutrition (Grégoire & Philis, 2017). Moreover, healthcare practitioners should not forget that factors such as age and socioeconomic aspects also play an essential role in risk factors for the disease.
Conclusion
Considering the above facts and statistics, healthcare professionals should pay special attention to the population’s education and awareness about the disease’s risks. To do this, it is worth directing all efforts to those regions where the prevalence of the disease is highest. Diabetes patients are impacted by various economic, ecological, cultural, and individual variables. The healthcare providers and nurses should concentrate on essential aspects, including encouraging favorable perceptions and the advantages of glucose level monitoring for type 2 diabetes patients. Health professionals must be knowledgeable about the patient’s cultural background, beliefs, and social environment if nutritional management must be successful.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). National and State Diabetes Trends.
Grégoire, J., & Philis, M. G. (2017). L’éducation nutritionnelle du patient diabétique [The nutritional education of patients with diabetes]. Soins; la revue de reference infirmiere, 62(815), 19–23.
Pflanzer, L. R. (2017). The CDC mapped out where people with diabetes live in the US – here is what it found. Business Insider.