Asessment 2 - Essay PDF

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Asessment 2 - Essay...

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Name: Jasmyn Tessier Student ID: 11706325 Assessment Item 2 – Essay Word count: 1348 words (in-text citations removed) Due Date: 10.05.2020

The World Health Organisation (WHO) define Diabetes Mellitus as ‘a chronic, metabolic disease characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose’ (World Health Organisation [WHO], n.d.). Diabetes Mellitus is classified as one of Australia’s national health priority issues, in 2017-2018 affecting one in twenty Australian’s (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], 2018). Diabetes Mellitus in its most common form, Type 2, can affect anyone, but it is most common in individuals that are overweight or obese, and/or have a family history of diabetes. The rates of Diabetes in all of its forms (gestational and Type 1 included) have risen over the years, making it a significant health issue currently facing Australian’s. There is a broad range of preventative strategies that can be employed by Australian’s to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, including (but not limited to) eating a balanced, healthy diet, quit smoking and see your doctor for regular check-ups (Better Health Channel, 2014) if you are classified at an increased risk. In order to understand Diabetes Mellitus and why it is a significant health issue currently facing Australians, the discussion of prevalence and incidence, key determinants, and identification of key consequences must be understood to comprehend how important it is for health professionals and governments to assist in the ongoing medication needed for diabetes patients.

Understanding prevalence and incidence, as well as being able to distinguish between the different types of Diabetes Mellitus, will assist in further research conducted to understand this health issue. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has confirmed that in 2015, Diabetes Mellitus was classified as the 12th leading cause of disease burden (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2019), making diabetes a significant health issue facing Australians. It is interesting to note that Diabetes Mellitus is most common in those 45-years-old or older, and suffer with high blood pressure, are classified as overweight and/or are from an Aboriginal, Torres Strait or Pacific Island background (Diabetes Australia, n.d.), although this is not always the case. With the rise in obesity in children and young adults, Type 2 diabetes is being diagnosed in younger people, particularly Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander youth (National Diabetes Services Scheme, n.d.). Those adolescents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are predicted to lose an approximation of 15 years from their remaining life expectancy when compared to those of the same age who do not have diabetes (Kao & Sabin, 2016, p. 401). Prevalence is defined as, ‘the actual number of cases alive, with a given disease or other health condition either during a period of time or at a particular date in time,’ (Advanced Renal Education Program, 2012). Although type 1 diabetes is autoimmune based, lifestyle measures such as maintaining a healthy body weight, becoming physically active and eating a healthier diet are ways to prevent the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes (WHO, 2018). It is important to note that Diabetes is addressed at a national level, as well as through a range of programs and initiatives, in order to support the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus (Department of Health, 2016). In New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, the ‘Beat It’ program is an 8 week physical activity and lifestyle program that aims to help those suffering from type 2 diabetes start a healthier and more active life (Diabetes NSW & ACT, 2019). The ‘Beat It’ program is run by accredited exercise physiologists that have undertaken training with Diabetes NSW & ACT in order to help slow the progression of type 2 diabetes. Incidence can be defined as ‘the rate of newly diagnosed cases of the disease, presented as per month or per year,’ (Advanced Renal Education Program, 2012). The National Diabetes Register (NDR) is a database created by the AIHW to estimate the incidence of insulin-based diabetes since January 1999. The use of this database presented that, within 1999-2005, there were over 100,000 new cases of insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, with type 2 making up 84% of the overall new cases of diabetes mellitus (type 1, type 2 and gestational forms) (Catanzariti et al., 2007). As diabetes mellitus continues to affect millions of Australians, we are able to scientifically understand the incidence of the disease, how those suffering with type 1 diabetes can manage this disease and how one may prevent to likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.

Determinants act on and are influenced by an individual’s physical and psychological makeup, which can greatly modify a person’s response to other new or continuing determinants. This makeup can be seen as the complex product of a person’s genes, anatomy and physiology and their exposure to viruses and bacteria at various stages over their life course (Crockett, 2020, slide 8). Some of the determinants of health include biological, economical and environmental. When discussing the family history of diabetes, it should be known that it is not genetically linked but can be affected by one’s family lifestyle habits. With type 1 diabetes, although people who have a family history of type 1 diabetes may be

inclined to developing it, the is no direct genetic linkage (Genetics Home Reference, 2020). On the other hand, those with a family history of type 2 diabetes have a greater chance of developing the disease (Leontis & Hess-Fischl, 2018, para. 2). It is interesting to note that those that are less physically active, consume more calories, have larger portions than necessary, and being overweight (BMI greater than 25) are those that have adapted a more “Westernised” lifestyle, with these risk factors making them more susceptible to type 2 diabetes (Leontis & Hess-Fischl, 2014, para. 7). Economical determinants of health are evident in Australia where the public policies around health, education and childcare have moved to for-profit services in order to be more available to those who need it (MacDougall, 2009, p. 289). Understanding that Diabetes is a continuously grown public health issue, the World Health Organisation discussed that Member States are to ‘implement population-based measures, appropriate to the local situation to prevent and control diabetes; and share with other Member States opportunities for training and further education in the clinical and public health aspect of diabetes,’ (WHO, 1989). When discussing the environmental determinants, this focuses on the physical, chemical, biological and social factors which affect people within their surroundings (Crockett, 2020, slide 11). The World Health Organisation has developed the Healthy Cities program to help create supportive environments that will promote health (Keleher & Joss, 2009). This program aims to ‘create a health-supportive environment, achieve a good quality of life, provide basic sanitation and hygiene needs, and supply access to health care,’ (WHO, n.d.). Through the ongoing research around the determinants in health when discussing diabetes mellitus, we are able to more thoroughly understanding the impact this disease has made on Australians biologically, economically and environmentally.

It is known that those suffering from diabetes mellitus do not have the ability to produce and/or effectively use insulin, but what is unexplored when discussing the treacherous consequences of this health issue is the associated complications, such as heart, kidney and eye diseases if one’s diabetes is not managed (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [NIDDK], 2017). Macrovascular and microvascular complications, along with lower-extremity amputations, are responsible for much of the burden associated with diabetes (Harding et al., 2019, p. 3), a fact that is unapparent to the general public. Diabetes mellitus was a contributor to over 16,000 deaths in 2018 (AIHW, 2018). The Australian’s health 2018 report also revealed that although the mortality rate of people with type 1 diabetes fell 20% between 2009 and 2014, the mortality rate of people with type 2

diabetes increased by 10% during that same period (AIHW, 2018), widening the gap between those deaths for people with type 2 diabetes and the general population. The statistics revealing the extremities involves in the development of diabetes mellitus enhances the reasoning behind why this is a major health issue that Australians are facing.

Through the discussion of prevalence and incidence, key determinants, and identification of key consequences of diabetes mellitus, we are able to understand why diabetes mellitus is a significant health issue currently facing Australians today. Tracking the trend of incidence and prevalence allows researchers to identify concepts of public health policies that are beneficial in the awareness of type 2 diabetes, as well as developing a more comprehensive pathway to the cure of type 1 diabetes. As associated risk factors of developing diabetes become clear, this shows the importance of continuous research towards our national health priority area. By providing public health policies to enhance awareness, ongoing research to find further linkages and take into consideration biological, economic and environmental determinants, we can help improve the health of individual and lower the mortality rate of this significant health issue currently facing Australians.

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