Health Inequalities and Management of Type 2 Diabetes in the UK

This report examines the growing prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in the UK, highlighting the significant health inequalities associated with the disease, primarily due to factors like obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. It explores the current state of public health interventions, such as Diabetes self-management education programs (DSME), and their effectiveness in educating and empowering patients. The report critically analyzes the role and responsibilities of nurses and healthcare professionals in managing diabetes, including patient care, education, and the promotion of self-care. It also discusses the challenges faced by the NHS in promoting diabetes management and suggests recommendations, such as collaborative, multi-disciplinary teamwork, and comprehensive training for healthcare professionals, to improve patient outcomes and reduce the impact of Type 2 Diabetes on public health. The report references numerous scholarly articles and research papers to support its findings and conclusions.

2 Type Diabetes

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................6

ABSTRACT
Increasing Diabetes patient especially of type II, has become one of the concerning
health issue in front of Health-care Departments of UK and entire world. It mainly
causes due to excessive weight of an individual, family history and poor lifestyles. This
would arise threat for long-term life-expectancy due to severe complications like heart
attack, stroke and more. Therefore, prevention of Type 2 diabetes and promoting self-
care management becomes a key area for health promoters, where more work needs to
be done in order to meet the standards. For this purpose, a number of educational
programs like Diabetes self-management education programmes has been run in UK,
that includes the pattern describes in the National Service Framework model. This
strategy has moved up the agenda for reducing diabetic patients rate, by setting the
targeted interventions to reduce the Type 2 diabetes in future and its threat on
individuals, their families and the NHS. For execution of such educational and
prevention programs, nursing team which includes a group of medical professionals and
nurses, contributes the major role, to provide guidance and care of diabetic patients. But
still due to less participation of people, in England and other areas of UK, expected
result of running such programs are not still obtained. So, it is recommended to NHS
and other organisations that deal in same sector, to work as multi-disciplinary team, with
a comprehensive and effective care plan, to deliver expected result.
INTRODUCTION
Public health defines as the art of promoting health and protecting wellbeing of
people, by preventing them from illness. Through the efforts of health organisation and
efforts of society, it becomes possible to prevent people from prolonged disease (Sierra
and et. al., 2018). Hereby, health equality refers to a key element of social justice,
where collaboration of government, society and health agencies organisation help in
developing health policies. This would improve the health of public regardless of
ethnicity, social class, income and gender, by promoting healthier lifestyles. There are
two types of diabetes predominantly seen that are type 1 and type 2 diabetes (Muzhikov
and et. al., 2018). Type 1 occurs when body of an individual does not produce any
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insulin. While type 2 diabetes disease is caused when enough insulin which is required
to function properly, does not produce. Therefore, under such case, cells do not react
with insulin and causes a number of health problems (Liu and et. al., 2018). It includes
stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and more, that reduces the long term life
expectancy as well.
The present report is going to make a report on health inequalities, that still exist in
UK, due to poor lifestyle of people. The topic hereby, chosen is Type II Diabetes,
because this has become a focal point within health care systems in worldwide manner,
due to high prevalence as well as severity of secondary complications. To understand
this topic about how such a prolonged disease can be managed, role of nurses and
perspective of patients both are taken. Under this assignment, discussion over public
health issue i.e. prevalence of diabetes type 2 (mellitus) is done, by exploring data
about health inequalities both at national and local manner. Along with this, frameworks
of public health intervention which give guidance to medical professionals for standards
of care is also being critically analysed. Furthermore, critical evaluation is done on roles
and responsibilities of nurses in promoting health and diabetes management.
MAIN BODY
Today, near about 90% people are suffering diabetes, that creates complications
and reduces the life expectancy up to 10 years. There are currently 4.7 million people
are facing problems related to diabetes in UK, where most cases are identified with
Type 2 disease (4.7 million people in the UK have diabetes, 2019). As per statistical
figure, one in ten over age 40, are now living with this disease. Hereby, rapid increase in
obesity rates consider as one of the main driver of arising this health issue, in all over
the world. In context with UK, three in every five adults are overweight or suffering from
obese, where excessive weight is the single most risk factor that developing the Type 2
diabetes (Ikeda and et. al., 2018). Another factors that contribute to this risk from one
individual to other includes family history, ethnicity and age. So, in majority of these
cases, type 2 diabetes is generally treated with changes in poor or unhealthy lifestyle,
like healthy eating, weight loss if overweight and doing physical exercise more (Billeter
and et. al., 2018). The symptoms that shows the early signs of Diabetes 2, includes
going to the toilet again and again, feeling more thirsty and tired than usual. Along with
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this, losing weight without any cause, complications with kidneys, eyes, feet and nerves
also show early symptoms of diabetes of Type 2.
Type 2 Diabetes defines as a metabolic disorder which results in increase in
glucose level in blood, that is also known as Hyperglcemia. This disease causes a
serious medical condition for a person, that requires insulin or anti-diabetic medication,
for keeping the level of blood sugar in the body under control (Hu and et. al., 2018).
However, it has evaluated that development of type 2 diabetes as well as its
complications can be also prevented if it is early detected so that timely treatment can
be provided. As per estimation, potential threat of type 2 diabetes may increase from
4.7 million to over 5.5 million by 2025 (Dendup and et. al., 2018). So, this problem
considers as one of the biggest challenge in front of Public Health Education of
England, that forces to undertake serious actions for creating awareness among people
about this disease. For this purpose, Diabetes self-management education programmes
(DSME) as public interventions have been developed in UK, for educating and
empowering the patients how to control of own conditions (Avdic and et. al., 2018). It
includes Expert Patent Program or X-PERT, Diabetes Education and Self-Management
to diagnose symptoms of Diabetes and more. These programmes provide guidelines for
self-management, reducing the high risk of complications and to cope from both
physical and mental conditions of diabetes (Mayer-Davis and et. al., 2017). Along with
this, such programmes are developed appropriately by considering age of all groups i.e.
below 40 and adults of above 40. This type of public interventions helps NHS and other
health agencies to provide necessary information to their patients (Neal and et. al.,
2017). This would enable them in managing their own diabetes care and share
problems with others. With the help of professionals, people can prepare diet chart,
weight lost in case of overweight, blood glucose control and more, that proves in
effective diabetes care (Zhang and et. al., 2018). However, this program proves as a
cornerstone in promoting the well-being. But as per, Healthcare commission, it has
been found that at local level, people in England are not much aware about potential
threat of obesity and other factors that causes Diabetes type 2. Programs that facilitate
effective self-management and control of diabetes are not run properly. Along with this,
to promote self-management, National Service Framework for diabetes has been
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established in 2013, in UK (Trikkalinou, Papazafiropoulou and Melidonis, 2017). It has
set out a vision for NHS and other health organisations in diabetes management, by
developing good policies and intervention plans for providing best treatment and care to
such affected patients.
To provide proper care in diabetes management, nurses and health professionals
play the main role in promoting self-care (Marso and et. al., 2017). Nursing teams are
likely to come directly into contact with patients that are having any symptoms of
through screening, maintaining as well as supporting people to deal with same. The
main roles and responsibilities of nursing team includes urine monitoring, early
detection of disease type 2 diabetes, blood glucose monitoring, oral and injective
therapies, identifying and providing treatment of hyperglycaemia etc. (Rawshani and et.
al., 2017). They also provide support and help to patients in developing their self-care
and personalised care plans. Nurses are also helped in bringing awareness among
people about how to cope from mental health issues when they are affected by
diabetes, like depression and anxiety (Wiviott and et. al., 2019). Therefore, role of
Diabetes Specialist Nurses (DSNs) in hospitals are crucial in providing and promoting
good patient care.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from this entire report that growing rates of diabetes patients
especially of Type II, arise the biggest challenge for NHS and Public Health England, in
terms of maintaining life quality and enhancing life expectancy of people. Many health
inequalities are existed within society, due to heavy weight or obesity and improper
intake of foods. However, many frameworks and policies have been developed in UK to
promote self-care management of diabetes, where nurses contribute main role in
helping people to control sugar level in body and cope up with other complications of
diabetes. But still, less participation of people arises difficulties in front of NHS to
promote diabetes management. For this purpose, it is recommended to health care
organisations to provide proper training to medical or nursing team first, about in-depth
knowledge of diabetes. This would help them in providing good support to people
having chronic disease, to manage and prevent from same. Along with this, by
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collaborative working as a multi-disciplinary team, would encourage people to increase
their participation in awareness programs.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Neal, B. and et. al., 2017. Canagliflozin and cardiovascular and renal events in type 2
diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 377(7). pp.644-657.
Mayer-Davis, E. J. and et. al., 2017. Incidence trends of type 1 and type 2 diabetes
among youths, 2002–2012. New England Journal of Medicine. 376(15).
pp.1419-1429.
Wiviott, S. D., and et. al., 2019. Dapagliflozin and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2
diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 380(4). pp.347-357.
Rawshani, A., and et. al., 2017. Mortality and cardiovascular disease in type 1 and type
2 diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 376(15). pp.1407-1418.
Marso, S. P., and et. al., 2017. Efficacy and safety of degludec versus glargine in type 2
diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 377(8). pp.723-732.
Trikkalinou, A., Papazafiropoulou, A.K. and Melidonis, A., 2017. Type 2 diabetes and
quality of life. World journal of diabetes. 8(4). p.120.
Zhang, X. L. and et. al., 2018. Cardiovascular safety, long‐term noncardiovascular
safety, and efficacy of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with
type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systemic review and meta‐analysis with trial
sequential analysis. Journal of the American Heart Association. 7(2).
p.e007165.
Avdic, T. and et. al., 2018. Reduced Long‐Term Risk of Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic
Dissection Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide
Observational Study. Journal of the American Heart Association. 7(3).
p.e007618.
Dendup, T. and et. al., 2018. Environmental risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes
mellitus: a systematic review. International journal of environmental research
and public health. 15(1). p.78.
Hu, Y. and et. al., 2018. Smoking cessation, weight change, type 2 diabetes, and
mortality. New England Journal of Medicine. 379(7). pp.623-632.
Billeter, A. T. and et. al., 2018. Meta‐analysis of metabolic surgery versus medical
treatment for microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes
mellitus. British journal of surgery. 105(3). pp.168-181.
Ikeda, Y. and et. al., 2018. Incidence rate and patient characteristics of severe
hypoglycemia in treated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Japan:
Retrospective Diagnosis Procedure Combination database analysis. Journal of
Diabetes Investigation. 9(4). pp.925-936.
Liu, H. and et. al., 2018. Role of gut microbiota, bile acids and their cross‐talk in the
effects of bariatric surgery on obesity and type 2 diabetes. Journal of diabetes
investigation. 9(1). pp.13-20.
Muzhikov, V. and et. al., 2018. Thermopuncture for the diagnosis, monitoring, and
treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Journal of acupuncture and meridian
studies. 11(5). pp.323-331.
Sierra, J. A. and et. al., 2018. Clinical and economic benefits of professional CGM
among people with type 2 diabetes in the United States: analysis of claims and
lab data. Journal of medical economics. 21(3). pp.225-230.
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Online
4.7 million people in the UK have diabetes. 2019. [Online] Available Through:<
https://www.alad-americalatina.org/number-of-people-with-diabetes-reaches-4-
7-million/>.
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