Working with Communities: Strategies for Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Running Head: WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES 1
WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES
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WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES 2
Part 1
Introduction
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the manner in which one’s body metabolizes
glucose (sugar), the source of energy. With this condition, the body either does not produce
enough insulin to sustain a normal level of glucose or resists the effects of the hormone (insulin).
This paper discusses the different ways in which the community can be involved in prevention
and management of type 2 diabetes.This is aided by an analysis of the different levels of
community-based interaction in health programs. Community interaction is the process by which
individuals upsurge their assets and traits to achieve more power in their lives and bring about
political and social change (Laverack, 2014). The paper also covers the domains for capacity
building and empowerment of a community. Lastly, it discusses some approaches of health
promotion practice that can be used to motivate and educate the people about type 2 diabetes.
Levels of community Interaction
The levels of community based interaction include:
 community readiness
 Community participation
 Community engagement
 Community organization
 Community development
 Community capacity
 Community action
 Community empowerment.

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The ladder does not represent a chronological progression of activities. It is meant to create
clarity on the interaction of all the concepts (Laverack, 2014).
Strategies to Engage the Community
Community readiness: consulting with the community members is an effectual way of
involving the community in addressing type 2 diabetes. Consultations are carried out to find out
the position of the people regarding the disease and to inform future decision making. The
opinions and views of the people are important in finding out about essential areas such as their
lifestyles, health care facilities available to them and health-related behaviors. This kind of
information can be obtained through questionnaires, interviews, postal and internet-based
surveys directed to the general population. Meetings, polls and public hearings can also be
incorporated. The data collected should then be collated and analyzed so that the feedbacks are
clear and understandable. This helps in identifying areas that need improvement as well as the
preparedness of the community to be engaged in interventions to manage the disease (Harris et
al., 2015).
Community Engagement: this builds collaboration among people so that they can address their
common needs by sharing experiences and ideas. In practice, it is not possible for all members of
the community to be involved in participation thus only the representatives of the majority are
included in workshops and meetings. Community engagement leads to formation of equal
partnerships between the community members and the outside agency (Laverack, 2014). The
people are not just passive participants but are more action-oriented in identifying and addressing
their health issues. Active involvement of the people in managing type 2 diabetes is essential as
this requires change in individual lifestyles (Sidaway, 2014).

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Community capacity: this feature provides the basis of building the assets and the attributes of
the community towards solving the problem. It is a strategy which can be employed to build
more capable communities. In the case of type 2 diabetes, this can be achieved by continuously
creating awareness about the disease, its causes, symptoms and its health dangers. Cognition
would encourage every individual involved to put some effort towards the management of the
disease.A combination of a person’s genetic makeup and environmental factors are known to
cause type 2 diabetes.In addition to excess weight and lack of physical activity, fat distribution in
the body, age and prediabetes are also contribute to type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms and signs of type 2 diabetes develop gradually and one can have this condition for
years and not even realize it. Some of these symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, increased
hunger, thirst and urination, slow-healing sores and darkening of skin in some regions
(Ramachandran, 2014). Ensuring that people in the community are provided with this kind of
info helps in the prevention, early identification and intervention that limits advancement of the
disease and the impacts of the associated complications (Pratley, 2013). This material can be
spread via the internet, leaflets, events and posters.The newspaper, radio and television programs
can also be employed to pass on the information. For more effectiveness, special publications
can be made targeting a specified group in the population, for instance children
(Mustapha&O’Loughlin, 2012).
Part 2
Community Empowering and Ownership