Essay on Diabetes Prevention and Control: Health Promotion Objectives

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of diabetes prevention and control in Australia. It begins with an introduction to diabetes, defining the condition and outlining the essay's purpose: to identify suitable health promotion intervention objectives. The essay then reviews existing literature, highlighting the rising global prevalence of diabetes and its associated risk factors, including lifestyle modifications, genetics, and socioeconomic factors. It explores the current trends in diabetes signs and symptoms and the importance of early detection and self-care education. The essay also addresses the shortage of healthcare workers and the need for well-trained professionals to deliver effective health education. The methodology section details the search strategy, data sources, keywords, and inclusion/exclusion criteria used in the research. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the need for increased awareness, health education, and investment in healthcare resources. Finally, the essay proposes specific health promotion intervention objectives, including creating awareness, educating the target population on healthy lifestyles, and assessing healthcare providers' knowledge and attitudes. The essay uses several sources like WHO, IDF, and ADA to support its claims.

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DIABETES PREVENTION AND CONTROL

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Introduction
Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting individuals because their body cells does not utilize
insulin produce or there is not enough insulin leading to high sugar levels. However, (WHO,
2014) defined diabetes as a chronic condition whereby pancreas does not produce enough insulin
or the body cells does not sufficiently use the insulin produced leading to high or elevated sugar
levels. The purpose of this essay is to come up with the most appropriate health promotion
intervention objectives suitable for prevention, management, and control of diabetes in Australia.
Firstly, the paper will identify literature and evidence around diabetes prevention and control.
Secondly, the paper will focus on the search strategy for the data and inclusion and exclusion
criteria for all the information searched and analyzed. Finally, I will come up with the arising
study objectives from the evidence.
Literature review
The rise in the number of cases of diabetes diagnosis has increased globally. International
Diabetes Federation (IDF, 2014) makes it clear that the increase in the total of cases is now
becoming a significant public health concern globally. IDF, (2014) also states that most people
who are affected by diabetes are of ages between 40 years and 59 years with almost 179 million
population having undiagnosed diabetes. In the year 2013, over 21 million live births were
affected while in the year 2014 the mortality rate of diabetes was 4.9 million. This kind of rise
the number of new cases of diabetes is what IDF Atlas (2012) the number of individuals
diagnosed with diabetes will have doubled by the year 2030. The above studies demonstrate the
need for more allocation of resources on diabetes management as the risk is high among the
population.

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The significant factors associated with diabetes are, lifestyle modifications, genetic, age,
socioeconomic burdens, and gender. According to Haas L, Maryniuk M, Beck J, (2013) increase
in the number of new cases of diabetes are associated with unhealthy or inadequate dietary
intake, overweight, genetic and also modifiable risk factors such as social, economic deprivation
(poverty) and use of other substances such as alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking.
According to a survey conducted by (Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2015), high-risk factors for
diabetes includes overweight, unhealthy diets and lack of physical activities. From the two
studies, it is evident that there is a need for continuous health education among the risky
population to address the need for healthy diet and physical activities as they increase one’s risk
of getting diabetes.
Current trends in signs and symptoms of diabetes suggest that mostly the signs are so mild that
its difficult for someone to realize that he has diabetes condition. This makes it difficult for
people who are not well informed on diabetes to know when the sugar levels are high hence the
majority of people are only diagnosed when the sugar levels are high. A study conducted by
(CDA, 2012) stated that 35% up to 44% of people living with diabetes are only diagnosed when
the complications arise. A different study conducted by American Diabetes Association, (ADA,
2015) suggested that people should be facilitated with skills, knowledge, and ability for self-care
of diabetes by being able to know signs or symptoms of elevated sugar levels. These two studies
demonstrate that there is a need for education programs so that people are facilitated with
adequate information on self-detecting high sugar levels, know how to prevent, manage and
control.
Most countries are experiencing a shortage of healthcare workers. This makes it difficult
extensive health education to reach as many people as possible for early detection of

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complications and management. Jane K et al., (2011) claims that the successful management of
diabetes requires an excellent team of health workers who can interact well with the patient's
incompetence and respectful relationship. Another study conducted by (Carrie, Christopher, and
Jonathan, 2010) stated that health educators who lack sufficient training and confidence
especially in delivering physical activities and exercises among patients who have been
diagnosed of diabetes hinder patient ability to engage in physical activities. Kunt and Snoek,
(2009) found that lack of experience or attributes of low motivation and time constraints are
challenges experienced by health care providers hindering provision of appropriate health care.
The above reports show that there is much need for the government agencies to ensure that
health care providers are well equipped with adequate skills so that they can provide the needed
services to the patients with diabetes. The reports also demonstrate that there is a need to ensure
that more healthcare providers are trained so that health facilities have enough caregivers who
can adequately provide health education to the patients. The Australian government should
ensure that the health sector is well equipped with appropriately qualified health professions and
health educator so that they can reach a large number of people who do not have information on
diabetes.
Search strategy
Sources of Data: Electronic databases Google scholar, and Web of Science were searched for
publications on diabetes management, prevention and control in Australia for the period (2000 –
date). Other searches were also done by use of google scholar on literature on diabetes
management.
Evaluation, monitoring and proper research were conducted to ensure reliable information is
selected from the sources. This helped in making sure that the information used in the study was

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of importance on determinants of health in broad ways and selected information can be used
across health outcomes.
Search keywords: The most used terminology in this search included diabetes and while other
searches included management and prevention and control, and Australia.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
The reason for the selection of this evidence was to address the gap and health concerns arising
from diabetes management and prevention. First, the evidence proved that diabetes is a public
health concern with the rising number of new cases. This calls for all government and
nongovernmental organizations in coming up with appropriate strategy and intervention to
reduce the increase in the number of new cases.
Secondly, the evidence showed that there is a need for awareness on lifestyle modification
including the need for regular physical exercises. This should be a key area of concern because
these are the risk factors increasing someone’s chance of getting diabetes.
Third, the evidence showed that there should be a plan on how to disseminate information to the
public to increase their knowledge of self-prevention. The evidence suggests the need for proper
interventions for coming up with appropriate information and channel of spreading information
to the people on the arising health issues and how to prevent themselves.
Lastly, evidence addressed the shortage of healthcare workers which is also limiting the ability to
pass the information to the public. This calls for interventions on how young people can be
motivated to join health courses to reduce the shortage of care providers.
Conclusion

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Evidence and literature review of this study suggests four broad conclusions. First, the evidence
indicates that an increasing number of new cases of diabetes should be taken as much serious as
possible because a high number of people are at risk. This can be achieved through regular
screening of the population to determine those diagnosed with diabetes to prevent complications
and to educate those without diabetes on self-prevention. Secondly, evidence suggests increase
action for health education and reaching out to a large population so that people can understand
the importance of healthy eating and regular exercises. This will help prevent incidence where
people become at risk as a result of being overweight and eating unhealthy diets. Third, the
evidence showed that most people know of diabetes after complications have occurred. This
raises a need for extensive health education programs with the aim of equipping the people with
adequate knowledge on diabetes, causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms and prevention
methods. Finally, evidence showed that the government of Australia should invest in health
sector increasing the number of health caregivers and ensuring that they are equipped with
adequate knowledge and skills. This will help to provide that information being delivered to the
public is reliable and can help them take control of the prevention and management of diabetes. I
have suggested that having enough skilled and motivated health care workers will assist in
ensuring that reliable information is delivered to the public for self-protection against diabetes.
Study objectives from the evidence
The evidence from the study has provided information that is useful in coming up with proper
health promotion intervention objectives as explained herein. First, to create awareness on
diabetes management and prevention among the target population. This is a health promotion
objective intervention intended to make sure that people are facilitated with reliable information
to increase their knowledge on management and prevention of diabetes.

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Secondly, to educate the target population on the importance of a healthy diet and the need for
regular physical exercises. It is a health education intervention to ensure that people are aware of
the risk factors of diabetes and how they can prevent themselves within their home settings.
Finally, to assess the knowledge and attitude among healthcare providers on service delivery on
diabetes prevention and management. This is a health promotion intervention objective to
determine if the healthcare workers are motivated enough to provide reliable information to the
public.
Reference
American Diabetes Association, (2015) Foundations of care: education, nutrition, physical
activity, smoking cessation, psychosocial care, and immunization. Sec.4. In Standards of
Medical Care in Diabetes 2015, Diabetes Care 2015; 38 (Suppl. 1): S20–S30

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American Diabetes Association, (2015) Foundations of care: education, nutrition, physical
activity, smoking cessation, psychosocial care, and immunization. Sec.4. In Standards of
Medical Care in Diabetes 2015, Diabetes Care 2015; 38 (Suppl. 1): S20–S30
Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2015). National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15.
4364.0.55.001Viewed 23 May 2016.
Carrie J.D.B, Christopher, A.S, Jonathan, R.F. et al.,(2010): Including Physical Activity and
Exercise in Diabetes Management: Diabetes Educators’ Perceptions of their Abilities and
Abilities of their Patients. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 34(3), 218-226
Canada Diabetes Association, (2012). World Diabetes Day.
Haas L, Maryniuk M, Beck J, (2013) National standards for diabetes self-management
education and support. Diabetes Care; 37 (Suppl. 1): S144–S153
International Diabetes Federation (2014)
International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas (2012)
Jane K. Joanne M, Gallivan C (2011); National Diabetes Education Program and the role of
Partnership in the Prevention and Management of Diabetes
Kunt T. and Snoek, F.J. (2009); Barriers to Insulin intensification and How to Overcome them.
International Journal of clinical Practice supplement (164), 6-10
World Health Organization, (2014). Methods for life expectancy and healthy life expectancy.
Global health estimates technical paper. WHO/HIS/HSI/GHE/2014.5. Geneva: