Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by
elevated levels of blood glucose, which leads over time to damage
of the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. The most
common is type 2 diabetes which occurs when the body becomes
resistant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin.About 422
million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in
low-and middle-income countries, and 1.6 million deaths are
directly attributed to diabetes each year.
Prevention of diabetes is an important topic to be considered
for community health education by community health nurses.Various
strategies used for this include:
- Combined diet and physical activity promotion programs are
effective in reducing new-onset diabetes. These programs also help
in controlling risk factors for cardiovascular disorders and
diabetes such as obesity, high blood glucose, and high blood
pressure. Combined diet and physical activity programs actively
encourage people to improve their diet and increase their physical
activity.
- Team-based care is a health systems-level, organizational
intervention that utilizes a multidisciplinary team to help
patients manage type 2 diabetes. Each team includes the patient,
the patient’s primary care provider , and one or more allied health
professionals. The team helps patients to undergo appropriate
medical tests, use medications to manage risk factors, be compliant
to treatment, and make healthy behavior and lifestyle choices.
- Interventions engaging community health workers for diabetes
prevention :-.Community health workers are frontline health workers
who function as a bridge between underserved communities and
healthcare systems. Programs may include education about diabetes
prevention and lifestyle changes, or counseling people at higher
risk for diabetes.
- Intensive lifestyle interventions helps type 2 diabetes
patients improve glycemic control and reduce the risk factors for
cardiovascular disease. Patients with type 2 diabetes receive
counseling and support to help them modify their diet and level of
physical activity. Programs provide ongoing counseling and
individualized guidance on dietary modifications and regular
exercise. Patients must interact with program providers multiple
times for a period of six months or longer. Important measures that
have to be taught to the community to help in the prevention of
Diabetes include:-
- Adequate physical activity can help control blood glucose
levels, weight, and blood pressure, as well as raise “good”
cholesterol(HDL) and lower “bad”cholesterol (LDL) and thus, can
help prevent the development of diabetes and cardiovascular
disease.
- Losing just a small amount of weight (between 5 to 7 percent of
total body weight) can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes for those
who are at high risk for the disease.
- Dietary modifications by eating smaller portions of food
;eating healthy food( promotion of fruit and vegetable consumption,
the elimination of trans fats )can help prevent or delay a
diagnosis of diabetes. Appropriate health education regarding the
prevention of diabetes in communities is essential to improve the
quality of life of people as well as reduce the burden on the
healthcare system.