Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetes

¶ … 2012, 1.5 million lives were lost to diabetes globally. It ranked eighth among the causes of deaths across both sexes and fifth among women (WHO, 2016). Higher than optimal glucose levels, even those that fall below diabetes diagnostic threshold, is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Diabetes' diagnostic criterion is fasting plasma glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L which is a diagnostic point chosen because of micro-vascular issues such as diabetes retinotherapy.

The likelihood of having a macro-vascular disease such as stroke or a heart attack begins to increase even before this point is reached (Bellamy, Casas, Hingorani & Williams, 2009). To comprehend the impact blood glucose levels can have on mortality, one ought to view blood glucose related mortality as a risk factor. The total lives that were lost to high blood glucose levels in 2012 have been estimated to be about 3.7 million. The number includes those that can be directly attributed to diabetes which stand at 1.5 million.

The remaining 2.2 million deaths are derived from various complications such as chronic kidney disease, tuberculosis and cardiovascular diseases associated with blood glucose levels that are higher than optimal (WHO, 2016). Countries that are Faring better or Worse than Others Mortality rates due to high blood glucose levels vary greatly across WHO regions. The highest rates in WHO regions are in the African, South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions (WHO, 2016). Rates also vary by gender where the WHO South East Asia and European regions record higher mortality rates for women than men.

The period between 2000 and 2012 saw premature deaths that can be attributed to increase in high blood glucose levels for both men and women in all regions except for women living in the WHO European Region (WHO, 2016). The rise in number of deaths due to high blood glucose was highest in WHO Western Pacific Region. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, the combined number of mortalities due to high blood glucose for the period rose to 944,000 from 490,000 (WHO, 2016).

It was estimated that the WHO Western Pacific and the South-East Asia Regions accounted for nearly half of the world's diabetes cases. Globally, there has been a significant increase in the number of people with diabetes since 1980 when there were 108 million people with diabetes to the current position where the number has nearly quadrupled. The region that has recorded the highest increase has been the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, which now has a prevalence of 13.7%, the highest in the world (WHO, 2016). How the U.S.

Ranks on this Issue in Relation to Other Countries Diabetes is still one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. It currently ranks 7th. Case in point, in 2010, 69,071 death certificates directly listed diabetes as the underlying cause of death while, in total, 234,051 death certificates listed it as either a contributing or an underlying cause (ADA, n.d.). It is estimated that around 208,000 Americans below the age of 20 have been diagnosed with diabetes; this is about 0.25% of the U.S. population (ADA, n.d.).

It was estimated in 2008-2009 that the annual incidence of diagnosed diabetes among the youth was 19,436 for type 1 diabetes and 5,089 for type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that more deaths may be caused by diabetes than is being reported. Studies have revealed that between 35% and 40% of individuals with diabetes and had passed away had their death certificates indicating that diabetes was a cause while around 10% to 15% of such death certificates listed diabetes as the underlying cause (ADA, n.d.).

Efforts of the World Health Organization and other Agencies on this Issue WHO Diabetes Program's mission is preventing diabetes whenever and wherever possible so as to minimize resultant complications and increase the quality of life of people around the world (WHO, About the Diabetes Program, n.d.). The program carries the following functions: • Overseeing the development and uptake of internationally agreed norms and standards for diabetes' (and resultant complications') diagnosis and treatment. • Promotion of and contributing to monitoring of diabetes, its risk factors, complications and mortality.

• Contributing to capacity building to prevent and control diabetes. • Raising awareness about the significance of the problems diabetes pose to global public health. • Acting as a voice for the prevention and control of diabetes among those in vulnerable regions (WHO, About the Diabetes Program, n.d.). Another body that is helping in the fight against diabetes is the National Diabetes Prevention Program. The National DPP brings players from both the private and public sectors to combat type 2 diabetes.

They work to enable people with pre-diabetes to take part in affordable and evidence-based high-quality lifestyle change programs so that they can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and to also better their general health. They have partnered with several groups to make these possible. These groups include: • Employers • Private and public insurers • Federal agencies • Local and state health departments • Federal agencies • Healthcare professionals • Businesses with a focus on improving wellness (CDC, n.d.).

NDPP has pushed for healthy lifestyle changes as one of the ways to deal with diabetes. These changes include eating healthier food and adding or increasing daily physical activity and exercise (CDC, n.d.). Existing Disparities in Relation to the Issue Comment by babyliza: What's discussed here covers the causes or factors leading to the disparities. The question not answered.I believe what's to be discussed are the races, ages and gender most affected by diabetes. Also, the populations that have emerged as the most disadvantaged and why.

There are several factors that contribute to the disparities in the prevalence of diabetes as well as disparities in health outcomes. One of the contributing factors is lower quality care in some areas. In a report, Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, The Institute of Medicine reports that while demographic variables and health care access is to blame for some of racial disparities in healthcare, a significant portion of the disparities could be attributed to quality of care (Peek, Cargill & Huang, 2008).

For instance, in spite of having equal health care access, Puerto Rican adults having diabetes in the state of New York are much more less likely than their white counterparts to get annual cholesterol testing (68% vs. 87%), HbAlc testing (73% vs. 85%) and hypertensive medications (82% vs. 92%) (Peek, Cargill & Huang, 2008). Diabetes affects ethnic groups/races differently; in 2008, diabetes was the.