Health Issue : Diabetes Mellitus

Secondly, the behavior change theory I followed was the TTM (Transtheoretical Model). This model has the following stages: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance and Termination.

In 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, had diabetes, this is a huge jump from the 28 million found in 2010 (Report, 2014) With such prevalence is it important to understand what diabetes are, risk factors, and how to treat it in order to prevent further complications.

According to Glanz, Rimer, Viswanath, 2008), the Transtheoretical Model focuses on the changes in behavior and less on cognitive variables such as the ones used in the Health Belief Model. The Transtheoretical Model also foresees health behavior and change. Sutton (2008) states that the five stages of the Transtheoretical Model are, Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance.

Diabetes is a chronic disease which is becoming a growing health concern in adults in the United States with more than 29 million Americans living with diagnosed diabetes and 86 million living with pre-diabetes. According to American Diabetes Association, diabetes is considered as a 7th leading cause of death in the United States and is projected to increase from 14% to 33% by 2050. The incidence of diabetes is expected to rise considerably worldwide with the most increase seen in type 2 diabetes caused due to many predisposing conditions and risk factors such as genetics and family history. This rising prevalence of diabetes is demanding various government and private agencies to implement programs and initiatives to reduce the occurrence of diabetes not only in adults but in children and adolescents.

“In 2010, an estimated 25.8 million people in the United States had diabetes mellitus, of which approximately 1 million have type 1 diabetes and most of the rest have type 2 diabetes ” (Papadakis et al., 2014) That means that in 2010 about 24.8 million people suffered from type 2 diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is impaired insulin secretion and variable degrees or peripheral insulin resistance leading to hyperglycemia (Porter, Kaplan, 2011). Type II diabetes has become more prevalent in the United States due to the decrease in physical activity, the increase in obesity rates, and also the predisposition of genetic factors. In this paper I am going to cover description of history and the disease, etiology, signs and

The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) is a theory that describes the willingness that people have towards making a change in their life; this can include removing something bad or adding a new condition or attitude. The Encyclopedia of Public Health (2008), stated that “the TTM of intentional behavior change describes change as a process that unfolds over time and progresses through six stages: precontemplation (not ready to take action); contemplation (getting ready); preparation (ready); action (overt change); maintenance (sustained change); and termination (no risk of relapse)”. The TTM is often used for health promotion strategies for smoking cessation, increasing activity levels or exercising, losing weight to prevent obesity, and many other

Diabetes has become one of the most prominent public health challenges of our generation. Approximately, 26 million adults in the United States have diabetes, with almost 2 million new cases per annum. In 1990, the rates of diabetes have virtually tripled; in comparable with the high increases in obesity, which is one of the main risk factor for type 2 diabetes among youth, and U.S. adults (R. Bell 2013). Consequently, the financial costs of diabetes are astounding. In 2012, diabetes contributed to an appraised $176 billion in direct medical contribution to a $69 billion in reduced productivity (R. A. Bell, 2013). Unfortunately, the burden of diabetes is not equally shared across populations. Most racial/ethnic minority groups

Several studies are showing that the burden of diabetes in the United States will increase dramatically over the next 35 years, especially as it relates to population health and costs4-6. Some project the annual incidence of diabetes to increase from 8 cases per 1,000 in 2012 to about 15 in 2050, with total prevalence increasing from 14% in 2010 to 25%-28% by 2050 (assuming a medium level of incidence and diabetes mortality)5. This correlates to an expected number of 53.1 million Americans with diabetes by

Diabetes mellitus is a major chronic and complex public health problem that is affecting over 31 million people worldwide (Nguyen, 2014). Approximately fifty percent of people living with diabetes are undiagnosed and it has been estimated that every ten seconds three persons are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (American Diabetes Association, 2008). In the United States, nearly 26 million adults and children are diagnosed with diabetes, another 7 million are undiagnosed and 79 million living with pre-diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2012). The total amount of healthcare expenditure for diabetes in the United States was $245 billion of which $176 billion in direct medical costs and $69 billion in reduced productivity (Selp, 2015). Diabetes is one of the nation’s most deadly diseases and has been a contributor to major health consequences such as kidney failure, blindness, stroke, heart disease, non- traumatic limb amputation and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States (Nguyen, 2014). Despite the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the United States there is a significant disparity in non-Hispanic Blacks living with diabetes (Ogden, 2012). Several factors such as body weight, physical inactivity, cultural influences, environmental and psychosocial issues have been identified as contributing to the disparity.

Each year, at least 1 million people in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes, which makes this disease one of the nation's most serious health concerns that, if left unchecked, could reach epidemic proportions. And it doesn't stop there. Often, people who suffer from diabetes also have to contend with other complications, which not only increase the risk to the patient's health but also add to the rising cost of health care. This makes it necessary for an effective disease management program for diabetes to be in place.

Diabetes is the eight deadliest disease in the United States (Pietrangelo). As a pharmacy technician, I interact with patients on a daily basis and have observed that the majority of patients take medication for diabetes. I have seen people with diabetes range from ages 10 and up. It is a deteriorating disease that inevitably decreases one’s lifespan. It begins with subtle symptoms like frequent urination and excessive thirst (CDC, 2015). Then symptoms become more severe like sudden vision changes and slow-healing sores (CDC, 2015). Nevertheless, diabetes has a high reaching impact on society.

The amount of patients being diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus has sky-rocketed these past few years. ‘”In 2010 the figures were 25.8 million and 8.3%”” and has increased in ‘”2012 to 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3%.”(American Diabetes Association, 2014); it is seen nationwide, and has now even begun to affect our youth. In South Texas Diabetes Mellitus seems to be the number one thriving disease affecting its general population. Diabetes Mellitus is now one of the most widely known diseases that has turned into an epidemic and in 2008 the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 acknowledged Diabetes Mellitus as a disability, and rightly so since it affects many, from children to the elderly, causing complications (such as amputations, failure of

Worldwide, 382 million people are diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes related deaths claim the lives of 1 American every 3 minutes and is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure and stroke.” Besides the enormous physical and mental strain people with diabetes face, the cost to treat diabetes is also cause for concern. According to the American Diabetes Association,

Diabetes is a global public health problem and has a dramatic impact on the health care system not only due to high morbidity and mortality but also due to significant total medical costs .83 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of diabetes worldwide is 6.4 %, which varies from 10.2% in the Western Pacific to 3.6 % in the African region . The latest WHO estimate is 285 million in 2010 and has been projected to increase to 438

Diabetes is a disease that afflicts approximately 29.1 million American people and is ranked as the 7th leading cause of death in America (“Statistics About Diabetes”). Thus, understanding and studying this disease has the potential to help better many lives. A patient living with diabetes, or a parent of a child with diabetes all benefit from understanding and learning how to live with this disease, what risk factors to look for and how to adjust life style choices to help prevent complications. Doctors need to know what signs and symptoms to look for, and the best methods of treatment. While scientist and research strives to find novel methods of treatment and possible biological cures.