Type 2 Diabetes Education

Diabetes Type 2 is a prevalent disease with cases growing each year. Type 1 diabetes is also a concern especially regarding disease management. A useful assessment tool/technique for monitoring blood glucose levels for both type 1 and 2 is the A1C test. Otherwise known as the glycated hemoglobin test, the blood test provides the patient with information on the average blood sugar level within the past two to three months (Leong et al., 2017). A1C also measures blood sugar percentage attached to hemoglobin or oxygen-carrying protein within red blood cells.

It is a great tool for people concerned with development of type 2 diabetes and those managing type 1 diabetes. In a recent article on the effectiveness of A1C, researchers identified that the test can effectively determine potential for diabetes in patients. “Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) can be used to assess type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk. HbA1c predicts T2D in different common scenarios and is useful for identifying individuals with elevated T2D risk in both the short- and long-term” (Leong et al., 2017, p. 60).

Patients can use other tests like fasting glucose. Nonetheless, A1C provides a more accurate reading. This is because of the time frame of measurement. By measuring months-worth of blood sugar levels, A1C shows how long someone may have high blood sugar levels allowing for a more effective diagnosis. Additionally, A1C provides a good management tool for type 1 diabetics because by takin the test 4 times a year, they can see how well they have maintained their blood sugar levels.

While daily assessment for this group is important, it is also important to see long-term effects of their diabetes management protocols. This can help determine the amount of insulin they may need and so forth. A1C is a great assessment tool that can determine not just potential for diabetes and diabetes management, but also characteristics that may be associated with diabetes. For instance, another study measured the effectiveness of A1C and fasting glucose.

They associated several health conditions with those that tested more likely to develop diabetes or already have diabetes. A total of 6.9% of people categorized as having prediabetes based on A1c and fasting glucose would be categorized as having diabetes based on 2-h plasma glucose. They were more likely to have hypertension, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, albuminuria and elevated alanine aminotransferase (Menke, Rust, & Cowie, 2017, p. 46). Such information is important to know regarding diabetes education.

Diabetes type 2 often results from poor lifestyle choices that can be managed and potentially alleviate the illness. Obesity for example, can lead to metabolic syndrome and a greater chance for development of type 2 diabetes. The reason for the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes is tied to the obesity epidemic hitting the world, especially countries like the United States where millions of people are obese or morbidly obese.

Certain segments of the population are even more vulnerable to type 2 diabetes development thanks to body mass index and greater likelihood to gain abdominal fat. These groups are Hispanics and Asians. “Type 2 diabetes is over-represented in vulnerable populations. Vulnerable patients managing diabetes are challenged with less-than-optimal processes and outcomes of care; renewed the focus on social determinants of health with regard to the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes” (Young, Yun, Kang, Shubrook, & Dugan, 2018, p. 1).

Asians have a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes with a smaller BMI and Hispanic people are more likely to develop abdominal fat and other markers for development of diabetes type 2 like high blood pressure. A1C can provide some understanding to specific correlations between test results and other factors. “This study explored the correlations between A1C and social and personal factors, including diabetes knowledge, diabetes numeracy, and food security” (Young, Yun, Kang, Shubrook, & Dugan, 2018, p. 1). One factor proven by the study was food security.

“Although the correlation coefficients generated by the results obtained from the three questionnaires and A1C levels were generally small, a correlation coefficient of 0.46 was found between food security and A1C” (Young, Yun, Kang, Shubrook, & Dugan, 2018, p. 1). Food is such an integral part of diabetes management. The African American population, another segment of the population more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, has a food culture that consists of a high sugar, high fat diet.

High sugar and high fat foods contribute to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. People must adopt healthy eating by consuming adequate protein, high fiber, and high plant foods. This will enable a positive health outcome and decrease risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Those with type 1 diabetes can better manage their disease with sound eating choices as well. In conclusion, A1C provides an accurate assessment of blood sugar levels for diabetics for the last two to three months. Those with type 1 diabetes.