Health Promotion for Type 2 Diabetes

Running head: HEALTH PROMOTION FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
Health Promotion for Type 2 Diabetes
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

HEALTH PROMOTION FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
1
Health Care Promotion for Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), has been identified as Australia’s leading health
priority due to its alarming growth rate. In the year 2015, it was estimated that over 1.7 million
people were diagnosed with diabetes; while a large population was at a high risk of developing
diabetes. Another diabetic complication is the development of cardiovascular diseases which is
the leading cause of death in Australia. This paper highlights the roles of registered nurses in the
promotion of health against diabetes. The essay reflects the five strategies of health promotion by
Ottawa Charter for prevention of T2DM.
Health promotion is a multidisciplinary task often characterized by various
collaborations; one between the patient and care providers and the other between healthcare
professionals and the community stakeholders. As it stands, T2DM poses a social challenge that
calls for; reorientation of care providers and healthcare settings, strong policies and strategies
closely monitored by national authorities, and proper participation from relevant stakeholders.
Therefore, the nurses’ roles in the promotion of health involve working hand in hand with
diabetic patients, general population, other healthcare professionals, and the policy-makers
(Sherifali, 2017).
Ottawa Charter for health promotion gives guidance for promotion of health practice to
address the issue. The first basic strategy of health promotion is to build healthy public policy.
This policy combines the various corresponding approaches which comprise of legislation,
taxation, change in organization and fiscal measures (Maximova et al., 2016). The policy
requires the recognition of barriers that stops the policy to get adopted in non-health sectors and
to find the ways to remove it. T2DM is the major public health problem which high prevalence
in the low and middle income group peoples. The disease is increasing with the aging population

HEALTH PROMOTION FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
2
as well the younger generation, which is mainly because of low economic status and low quality
of life. Its prevention needs politic influence to build health policy which can get magnetized by
public concern. National nurse association play vital role in identifying the major barrier that
causes resistance to the policy amendment in non-health sector. Nurses acknowledge the need for
effective collaboration with policy-makers in the structuring of policies related to non-
communicable diseases such as diabetes. With their knowledge and experience, nurses and
midwives are well equipped to support policies that aim to rehabilitate, treat, and prevent T2DM.
Nurses are actively advocating for the execution of policies that target the reduction of risk
factors, such as taxing and controlling the advertisement of alcoholic drinks and unhealthy foods.
Also, they advocate for policies that encourage physical activities in schools to curb the
increasing obesity menace (Arena et al., 2017). Moreover, nurses advocate for policies that
introduce risk screening tools a necessity in public health settings (Beig et al. 2018).
Consequently, with the nurses’ interventions patients are supported to make informed health-
related decisions and actions (Kilkenny et al., 2014).
Second strategy of Ottawa charter is to create supportive environment. The strategy
focusses on to protect the natural environment and to construct a supportive atmosphere. In the
strategy, the conservation of natural resource must be addressed (Thompson, Watson & Tilford,
2018). Prevention of the T2DM requires reduction of weight loss and modification of lifestyle.
The risk factor for T2DM are smoking, BMI, exercise and diet plan. A healthy environment and
awareness is needed to address the issue. There is the need to create such an environment which
can check the progression of risk factors and can prevent the diseases. Therefore, integration of
public health service creates options to develop strategies to recognize the ways their service are
being complementary. Nurses strive to provide an environment that supports and encourages the