Benchmark Assignment: Paper on Diabetes
Identify a research or evidence-based article that focuses comprehensively on a specific intervention or new diagnostic tool for the treatment of diabetes in adults or children. In a paper of 750-1,000 words, summarize the main idea of the research findings for a specific patient population. Research must include clinical findings that are current, thorough, and relevant to diabetes and the nursing practice. Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Only Word documents can be submitted to Turnitin.
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Diabetes is among the leading causes of most of the life threatening conditions in adults. Such diseases are, for example, heart disease and stroke. The rates of death that are attributed to heart disease and the susceptibility to developing stroke are higher among diabetic adults compared to the non-diabetic. According to the National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2012), 67% of the diabetic patients report experiencing HBP and cholesterol levels that are high. Therefore, they are at an increased risk of developing stroke and other heart diseases (Ross, Boucher, & O'Connell, 2007).
For smokers, the risks of heart disease and stroke are higher. Other risks in diabetes include loss of vision, amputation of limbs, and kidney failure. The above complications can be ameliorated, avoided, and delayed through glucose control that is measured using A1c levels and controlling the body’s blood pressure (Ross, Boucher, & O'Connell, 2007).
The overall medical costs for the treatment of diabetes and its related conditions are estimated to be two times higher for individuals with diabetes compared to those who have no diabetes. In the United States, diabetes-related treatment costs in 2007 alone amounted to approximately $174 billion. The total costs involved in the provision of direct medical care were approximately $116 billion and the indirect expenses amounted to $58 billion (National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2012).
Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high-blood sugar due to body’s ineffectiveness in producing enough insulin or utilize its own insulin effectively, or both. Therefore, blood sugar builds up that result in complications including premature death. Diabetes is associated with numerous complications as highlighted earlier. However, individuals with the condition can take the relevant steps to control the disease and reduce the risk of developing any complications and also reduce the effects of the complications if they are already present (National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2012).
Three common types of diabetes exist and these include type 1, 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes (juvenile/early-onset/insulin-dependent) diabetes accounts for 5% of all the diabetes cases and is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. From its name, it develops early in life. Therefore, it is common among children and young adults but can also set in at any age. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 95% of all the cases in diabetes and caused by an insufficient amount of insulin from the pancreas. Finally, gestational diabetes is common during pregnancy and occurs in approximately 2-10% of pregnant women. These women’s children are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Ross, Boucher, & O'Connell, 2007).
Nutrition therapy according to the American Diabetes Association has been proven and recommended as among the approaches and key components of the management of diabetes and education of diabetes self-management. Despite such professional recommendation, misconceptions are still presents regarding nutritional therapy and diabetes. The success of nutritional therapy in diabetes management has received minimal attention especially with the presence of more fast acting...