Synthesis/Summary of Evidence Based Practice Articles Introduction

A life-long disease, diabetes tends to affect the way an individual’s body handles blood glucose. In essence, type 2 diabetes happens to be the most prevalent kind of diabetes. It is important to note that various research studies have been undertaken in the past in an attempt to not only figure out the risk factors of diabetes, but also assess the best approaches towards the management of the same. This text concerns itself with three articles focusing on type 2 diabetes. In so doing, it will uncover the various risk factors for type 2 diabetes, assess the management of type 2 diabetes (with a bias on the appropriate diet), and evaluate the most appropriate nutritional choices to be made in relation to older people with diabetes.

Discussion

Ley, Korat, Sun, Tobias, Zhang, Qi, Willett, Manson, and Hu (2016), provide critical data on not only the role diet plays in the development of type 2 diabetes, but also the role other factors such as genetics, biomarkers, as well as lifestyle in the same. According to Ley et al. (2016), the number of adults living with diabetes in the world is estimated to be 415 million. As the authors further point out, this is a figure expected to rise to 642 million within the next two decades. In that regard, therefore, the relevance of implementing the appropriate interventions to rein in the situation cannot be overstated. Tay, Luscombe-Marsh, Thompson, Noakes, Buckley, Wittert, Yancy, and Brinkworth (2015) are of the opinion that to combat diabetes, which has become a global epidemic, there is a need to not only formulate but also implement effective strategies. Unger (2013) is of the opinion that the condition ought to be considered a critical public health concern. Today, “nearly 12% of global health expenditures are devoted to diabetes-related treatments, and the United States alone accounted for $348 billion in 2015” (Ley et al., 2016, p. 1624).

Some of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes identified by the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) include diet, adiposity, as well as other lifestyle factors. With regard to adiposity, which is in essence a severe obese condition, Ley et al. (2016) are of the opinion that this remains the most prominent risk factor with regard to diabetes, as per the NHS cohorts. In this case, “type 2 diabetes risk rose as excessive body fat increased, starting from the lower end of a...

1625). When it comes to diet, it is important to note that this has been linked to not only the development, but also the progression of type 2 diabetes for a long time (Unger, 2013). NHS, according to Ley et al. (2016) associated diets favoring oils that are plant based, enhanced n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids intake, enhanced zinc and magnesium intake, and fiber-rich diets with decreased type 2 diabetes risk. Further, also lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes was enhanced whole grain intake.
It should, however, be noted that increased consumption of red meat as well as sugar-sweetened beverages was linked to a higher risk for type 2 diabetes (Ley, et al., 2016). In the words of Ley et al. (2015), “a dietary intervention is a cornerstone of diabetes management with guidelines indicating dietary patterns varying in macronutrient composition may offer individualized approaches for treatment” (1628). It is, however, important to note that as the authors point out, of key consideration on this front is how effective various diets are in this endeavor. In their study seeking to compare low- and high-carbohydrate diets for the management of type 2 diabetes, Tey et al. (2015) found out that “hypocaloric, energy-matched LC and HC diets administered as part of a holistic lifestyle-modification program incorporating regular exercise achieved substantial weight loss, improved glycemic control, and reduced CVD risk factors in obese adults with T2D” (782). The authors further point out that the LC diet, in comparison to the HC diet, had better outcomes with regard to “greater reductions in diabetes medications and enhanced improvements in diurnal blood glucose stability and the lipid profile” (Tey et al., 2015, p. 783).

According to Ley et al. (2016), “physical inactivity is now a well-accepted risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and the NHS cohorts have provided strong supporting evidence” (1626). This is yet another risk factor that has been well-researched in the past. Ley et al. (2016) observe that in the NHS, an inverse relationship between type 2 diabetes and moderate to high-intensity exercise was observed. In contrast, however, those whose behaviors and lifestyles were sedentary had a higher risk of type 2 diabetes (Ley et al. 2016). Other lifestyle factors associated with a higher risk for type 2 diabetes include, but they are not…