Type 2 Diabetes in San Antonio: Challenges and Solutions - Paper Example

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most serious chronic diseases that affect the kidneys, nerves, and eyes of the victims. The United States faces challenges in managing Type 2 diabetes, especially since it causes most adults to become blind and lose their capability to work effectively. San Antonio city is located in Bexar County in Texas, and a significant number of residents are affected by Type 2 diabetes. The prevailing severity of Type 2 diabetes in San Antonia influences the need to develop strategies that would be adapted to promote good health in the state.

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Diabetes is considered a chronic disease that affects how the body of an individual changes food into energy. Type 2 diabetes emerges as a result of cells resisting the insulin that allows the blood sugar to enter the cells as energy. Insulin resistance might lead to the rising of blood sugar that damages an individual's body, leading to serious health problems. Historically Type 2 diabetes was connected with old age, but more youths from Bexar County are currently getting diagnosed with the disease. According to Johnson and William (2019), 14% of Bexar County people live with Type 2 diabetes, and young individuals have expressed more advanced complications of the disease than the old population. The most experienced complications include blindness, amputations, and in worst cases, death.

Incidences of diabetes have been increasing in Bexar County in the last decade. Type 2 diabetes is considered a health concern, particularly since it affects Hispanics and African Americans more compared to other ethnic groups. Boyle (2020) notes that the Report produced by the Metropolitan Health District indicates a major increase in the number of amputations in the last decade than in other decades. The report also indicates that Bexar County has greater rates of diabetes than the state and the national average rates of 10.6% and 9.3%, respectively (Boyle 2020). A report created by the San Antonio government in 2018 showed that individuals with lower income and low educational levels were more likely to get diagnosed with diabetes (Agha et al., 2018). These groups are essential in the identification of health indicators in San Antonio.

Major factors that influence the emergence of Type 2 diabetes include the consumption of processed food, excessive consumption of sugary products, and excess body fat. These factors need to be considered when developing health promotion concepts, especially for the population most affected by Type 2 diabetes in San Antonio (Nguyen & Graviss, 2019). Good nutrition, physical exercise, and healthy body weight are considered essential health indicators that improve an individual's overall well-being. Despite the educational, income, or age of the residents of San Antonio, these indicators' adaptation may reduce the risks of individuals developing type 2 diabetes problems.

Health Promotion Interventions

The population of San Antonio needs early interventions to promote health and prevent more diagnoses of Type 2 diabetes. The following principles may be adapted to influence the improvement of good nutrition, physical exercise, and healthy body weight as an indicator of health among the low-income earners, less educated, young, and old populations in San Antonio.

Behavior Change

The promotion of health in San Antonio would include supporting strategies that would enable individuals to change health-related behavior. The population should be educated on the consequences and benefits of their behaviors so that they can establish the need to adapt only to health-enhancing behaviors (Cefalu et al., 2016). Individuals’ social contexts should get evaluated to identify how they influence how individuals behave. Education programs in this aspect need to focus on helping individuals plan for gradual and sustainable changes.

Healthy Weight

Type 2 diabetes is influenced by overweight and obesity, and the achievement of a healthy weight may reduce the risks associated with the disease. San Antonio residents need to get educated on the foods and drinks to consume to improve their physical well-being. The education programs should focus on identifying the type of meals individuals need to consume and the ones that need to be limited. For example, people may be advised to eat fiber-rich foods such as oats and peas and avoid high-fat diets (Tabak et al., 2018). Individuals should get advice on the best food products that are cheaper and less complicated when preparing. Individuals need to get advice on the meal routine they should adapt through eating and physical activities. Weight-loss programs should be applied to ensure overweight individuals achieve a healthy body weight through regular physical activities. The programs should recommend the effective duration individuals should engage in physical exercise and the effective time of the day for the physical activities.

Cultural Appropriate Interventions

Hispanics and African Americans are the most affected groups in San Antonio. Health promotion programs need to focus on these communities' cultural and religious beliefs to ensure they effectively engage in adapting health-promoting practices. Promotion activities should utilize community resources to improve health awareness among individuals by connecting to their organizations and leaders. Health promotion efforts should select media, events, and messages that are specific to Hispanics and African Americans. Health promotion programs identify the barriers to access to healthcare and participation in health promotion practices. For example, leaders may lower the costs of healthcare to ensure the most affected communities can access healthcare. Communication should be effective by ensuring the community understands caregivers' instructions. Cultural and religious beliefs should also be connected to promotion activities to ensure they adopt the role of men and women in health and the practices related to hospitality and food.

Integrating National and Local Strategies of Health

Promoting health in San Antonio needs integration of the state and federal strategies in addressing chronic diseases. The government, commercial sector, local public health services, public transport, and other depart need to get involved in promoting health (Tabak et al., 2018). The promotion programs should include addressing the key risk factors and highlighting the benefits of national and local governments. The integration of different departments would encourage the monitoring of risk factors and health policies and improve health.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Type 2 diabetes is a major health issue affecting San Antonio due to the recent increase in diagnoses among the young population. Type 2 diabetes affects the capability of blood cells to change insulin into energy. An increase in blood sugar affects an individual's body and can lead to kidney failure, blindness, and amputation of some parts of the body. The major risk factors for Type 2 diabetes in San Antonio include poverty, lifestyle, and lack of health information. Change in behaviors and adaption to better practices by the people would improve their health status and reduce the risks of getting Type 2 diabetes.

References

Agha., G., Feazel-Orr, H., & Buck, M. (2018). Diabetes in Bexar County - 2017/2018 Report. The city of San Antonio. Retrieved 7 August 2020, from https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/health/News/Reports/Diabetes/DiabetesReport2017-2018.pdf.

Boyle, J. (2020). Take action to prevent diabetes. Health Focus. Retrieved 7 August 2020, from https://healthfocussa.net/wellness/prevent-diabetes/#:~:text=More%20than%2014%25%20of%20Bexar,the%20national%20average%20of%209.3%25.

Cefalu, W. T., Buse, J. B., Tuomilehto, J., Fleming, G. A., Ferrannini, E., Gerstein, H. C., ... & Kahn, S. E. (2016). Update and next steps for real-world translation of interventions for type 2 diabetes prevention: reflections from a diabetes care editors’ expert forum. https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/diacare/39/7/1186.full.pdf

Johnson, k., & Williams, D. (2019). More Bexar County Youth Are Being Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes, Prediabetes. Retrieved 7 August 2020, from https://www.tpr.org/post/more-bexar-county-youth-are-being-diagnosed-type-2-diabetes-prediabetes.

Nguyen, D. T., & Graviss, E. A. (2019). Diabetic trends and associated mortality in tuberculosis patients in Texas, a large population-based analysis. Tuberculosis, 116, S59-S65. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1472979219301507

Tabak, R. G., Parks, R. G., Allen, P., Jacob, R. R., Mazzucca, S., Stamatakis, K. A., ... & Brownson, R. C. (2018). Patterns and correlates of use of evidence-based interventions to control diabetes by local health departments across the USA. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care, 6(1). https://drc.bmj.com/content/6/1/e000558.abstract