Diabetes Care: Roles of Multidisciplinary Health Care Team and Barriers to Effective Self-Care

Diabetes care 1
Diabetes Care
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University
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Diabetes care 2
Diabetes Care
The first WHO Global report on diabetes demonstrates that the number of adults living
with diabetes has almost quadrupled since 1980 to 422 million adults (WHO, 2016). The
numbers are predicted to double in the next few decades, representing the imminent threat
diabetes poses on a health level globally. What is more concerning is that eighty percent of
diabetics globally are from low- and middle-income nations, where diabetes care and
management is below WHO standards. This paper will discuss the diabetes disease a bit, but will
mostly emphasize the roles of the multidisciplinary health care team of a diabetic. The paper will
also expound on the barriers to effective diabetes self-care.
Diabetes Mellitus (DM), is a progressive chronic disorder that affects human
metabolism. The disease is fatal but only kills its hosts slowly (Infobase & Just Like You
Films, 2018). This is because diabetes is majorly responsible for failure of human organs such
as the heart, kidneys (nephropathy), eyes (retinopathy) and nerve damage (neuropathy). Factors
that expose one to high risk of diabetes include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol
levels and high alcohol intake. Urbanization is also a factor that comes into play in the increase
in the cases of diabetes. The disease has no cure but luckily is manageable and treatable.
Diabetes is characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood that is, hyperglycemia. Diabetes
Mellitus manifests itself in three types; Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), Type 2 Diabetes
Mellitus (T2DM) and in the form of Gestational Diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes manifests itself through absolute deficiency in insulin creation by the
pancreas. Insulin is a hormone required by the body to synthesize glucose so as to allow entry to
body cells. (Holt, Goldstein, Flyvbjerg, & Cockram, 2016) This type of diabetes only makes
ten percent of diabetics globally. Unfortunately, T1DM is mostly diagnosed in young adults and

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children. Type 1 DM is not as fatal as Type 2 DM. Type 2 diabetes characterizes itself through
insulin resistance, a condition where by the body is not able to utilize insulin properly. T2DM is
the most common form of diabetes mellitus. This type of diabetes is mainly seen in adults mostly
over forty years (Kim, 2019). Gestational Diabetes is evident in pregnant women and
disappears immediately after birth due to placenta removal. The main cause of Gestational
Diabetes is the insulin blocking hormones produced by pregnant women in the placenta. Some
diabetes symptoms include vision impairment, unusual hunger, tiredness, increased thirst, slow
wound healing and frequent urination (Kagan, 2015). The disease takes long for its signs and
symptoms to manifest, that is why medical practitioners keep on advising the public to go for
annual diabetes screenings. Diabetics are advised to follow up with their doctors and nurses to
ensure proper diabetes management.
Diabetes management and care, especially in the modern world has taken more of a
patient centered approach thus more responsibility is placed on the diabetic. Health institutions
acknowledge that diabetes management and self-care cannot be handled by the diabetic only.
This has led to formation of multidisciplinary health care teams to aid diabetics in management
of the disorder. Some members of this team include dietitians, podiatrists, endocrinologists and
registered nurses. They all work together as part of a team in hospitals and health organizations.
It is important we expound on the roles of some members of such multidisciplinary teams in
diabetes care;
1. Diabetic self-care skills
Diabetic self-care is very important as it can enhance the quality of life and derail the
early onset of diabetes associated complications. The diabetes patient burdens much of the
responsibility of self-care, especially with modern innovation of tools that aid patients monitor

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glucose levels from their homes. The diabetic is solely responsible for some treatment
applications. (Chamberlain, Rhinehart, Shaefer Jr, & Neuman, 2016)
Some self-care skills in diabetics include monitoring of blood sugar levels, this has been
simplified with glucose electrodes inserted under the skin to monitor glucose levels
continuously. A diabetic should also keep physically active to improve immunity and ensure
weight control. Diabetes patients should also ensure they take their medicinal doses thoroughly
as prescribed. Proper dieting is also required from the diabetics so as to derail early onset of
diabetes related complications (Holt & Sudhesh, 2015). Diabetics should also learn to cope on
a health level, this is because diabetes not only affects the patient but his/her family as a whole
too on a social level. Guidance and support are required by most diabetics and can be provided
by family and health team members as discussed below.
2. The role of Endocrinologist
Endocrinologists deal with treatment of metabolic infections affecting the endocrine
system. The endocrine system specializes with hormone production and regulation in the human
body. The pancreas (part of the endocrine system), is a body organ dealing with secretion of
insulin, a hormone dealing with synthesis of glucose in the body. This proves that
endocrinologists are medical practitioners specializing in diabetes diagnosis and care
(Herscovici, 2016). Endocrinologists are responsible for diagnosis of diabetes, through
physical examinations and lab tests. After diagnosis, endocrinologists are responsible for
advising diabetics on the necessary lifestyle changes such as exercise and diabetes control
measures.