Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetes

¶ … Evidence Synthesis

Diabetes is regarded as one of the most problematic and major health concerns that has become prevalent across the globe. According to Kam et al. (2016), in 2012, diabetes resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million people throughout the world. Given its prevalence and devastating impacts, effective prevention and management of diabetes has become a major issue, especially among high-risk individuals/populations. Based on existing findings in the public health sector, dietary and lifestyle changes have been identified as the most suitable prevention and management techniques of diabetes. This study focuses on examining whether an intervention consisting of a traditional, organic, and all-natural diet of locally grown/produced foods plus exercise is more effective in addressing the body's issues in creating or absorbing insulin than insulin injections. In this regard, the researcher has identified relevant studies that will be synthesized based on their relevance, rigor, and level of evidence in relation to the phenomenon under investigation.

Approach to Synthesizing Evidence

For this study, the researcher utilized a mixed methods approach for synthesizing evidence. The mixed-methods approach involved conducting systematic reviews of complex, behavioral change interventions, which are regarded as effective measures for summarizing evidence based on their relevance and effectiveness to the issue under investigation (Leeman et al., 2011). When synthesizing the evidence, the researcher identified some variables of interest that guided the process. Some of these variables of interest include dietary and exercise interventions for Type II diabetes, creation and/or absorption of insulin, and insulin injections. These variables of interest were identified based on the PICOT question and the purpose/significance of the study.

Narrative Descriptions of Studies

Oftedal, Bru & Karlsen (2011) conducted a study to examine motivation for self-management techniques of Type II diabetes among adults suffering from this condition. The study was carried out on the premise that many diabetic patients find it difficult to comply with self-management regimes because of the behavioral demands and challenges associated with them. The researchers found that diet management and exercise management regimes are crucial addressing the body's issues in creation or absorption of insulin. However, the effectiveness of these self-management techniques requires both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors. The researchers employed a cross-sectional study design consisting a postal questionnaire that was administered to 427 adults with Type II diabetes. The study provides Level II evidence, which is high-quality evidence because it provides an indicator of patients' experiences in diet and exercise management. The study is significant for this research because it not only indicates the role of diet and exercise in management of Type II diabetes but also indicators factors that affect a patient's compliance with such regimes.

Aguiar et al. (2014) conducted a study to examine the effectiveness of several interventions such as diet, aerobic and resistance training in the prevention of Type II diabetes. The research was carried out on the premise that existing recommendations for preventing this condition are centered on changes in diet and exercise behaviors include aerobic and resistance training. To achieve the goals of the study, the researchers employed a systematic review and meta-analysis that reviewed the effectiveness of multi-component lifestyle interventions in prevention and management of the condition. This systematic, meta-analysis research provides Level I evidence, which demonstrate that multi-component interventions that include diet and exercise changes help in effective prevention and management of Type II diabetes. This study is significant for this current research because it demonstrates the role of multi-component interventions in preventing and/or managing Type II diabetes. The significance is based on the role multi-component interventions play in relation to weight loss, enhancing glucose tolerance and damaged fasting glucose, and improving dietary and exercise results.

Brief Description of the Selected Intervention

Based on a review of existing evidence and expert opinion, the intervention selected for this research is a combination of traditional, organic and all-natural diet and exercise. Kam et al. (2016) argues that an effective combination of dietary and lifestyle changes including exercise is suitable for prevention and/or management of diabetes. Such changes have been found effective in enhancing the capabilities of high-risk individuals to prevent and/or effectively manage diabetes. Mercola (2014) argues that the failure of conventional treatment/management of diabetes is attributable to flawed dietary recommendations. These traditional dietary recommendations have been associated with severe insulin reactions, which is evident in the body's issues in creating or absorbing insulin. Changing diet from processed foods to traditional, organic and all-natural diet is considered as a suitable measure towards addressing the body's issues in creating or absorbing insulin. In addition, studies have demonstrated that regular and intense exercise increases insulin sensitivity, which is crucial towards effective management or treatment of diabetes. The high insulin sensitivity is experienced even in the absence of weight loss and helps in addressing the condition.

In this case, the project will entail examining whether the use of an organic diet in combination with exercise enhances creation and absorption of insulin as compared to insulin injections among Type II diabetic patients. The researcher will utilize this intervention in the management of the condition vis-a-vis insulin injections.

Synthesis Tables

1

2

3

4

Level I: Systematic review or meta-analysis

Aguiar et al. (2014).

Ajala, English & Pinkney (2013).

Level II: Randomized controlled trial

Oftedal, Bru & Karlsen (2011).

Level III: Controlled trial without randomization

Cunningham-Myrie et al. (2015).

Level IV: Case-control or cohort study

Level V: Systematic review of qualitative or descriptive studies

Strychar, Elisha & Schmitz (2012).

Level VI: Qualitative or descriptive study (includes evidence implementation projects)

Level VII: Expert opinion or consensus

Studies

1

2

3

Interventions

Diet changes or Dietary approaches

Exercise or Physical activity

Insulin injections

1

Aguiar et al. (2014).

Aguiar et al. (2014).

2

Ajala, English & Pinkney (2013).

Cunningham-Myrie et al. (2015).

3

Oftedal, Bru & Karlsen (2011).

Oftedal, Bru & Karlsen (2011).

4

Strychar, Elisha & Schmitz (2012).

Studies

Design

Sample

Outcome

1. Aguiar et al. (2014, January 15). Efficacy of Interventions that include Diet, Aerobic and Resistance Training Components for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 11(2), 1-10.

Systematic review with meta-analysis.

23 articles including randomized controlled trials, single-group pre-post study, quasi-experimental study, and two-group comparison.