Inequity in Treatment of Diabetes Due to Social Determinants of Health

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Date Disparity and Inequity in Treatment of Diabetes Due to Social Determinants of Health The American Diabetes Association's 2015 data indicates that a total of over a quarter-million of the American population has diabetes, which encompasses both diagnosed and undiagnosed population (Diabetes). Among the population affected by diabetes their age, sex, race/ethnicity and type show a large disparity (Haire-Joshu, and Hill-Briggs 392). However, they share a few common factors such as poverty, illiteracy and segregation. The need to address these SDOH from a Public health perspective has become important in recent years as the treatment plans have made advances, but the number of people affected by diabetes has increased. An extensive approach towards developing, managing and evaluating translational interventions to support equity in health in diabetes prevention as well as therapy has become important. Thus, a framework addressing a total of five SDOH has been presented. Article Summary Socioeconomic status, as the name indicates is marked by the combination of one’s wealth and stability, defined as social status of a class of individuals or organizations and a combination of their education, income and jobs. Among barriers to achieving a great socioeconomic status, education is a forerunner and vice versa (Braga, et al., 3), Lower education contributes to poorer decision-making regarding health behavior, often resulting in a lower quality of life due to compromised health. Researchers have indicated a relation between reduced SES and Diabetes, population from a low-income family are more prone to stress and having a hyperglycemic diet and less likely to fill up a prescription; especially those affected by type T2DM (Houle, et al., 1). Key factors which have an impact of diabetes in this category consist of characteristics such as; quality of water, the density of an area of residence and work, air quality and access to public transport. Occupations requiring long work hours are often associated with poorer dietary choices especially in urban areas as compared to rural (Sami et al., 66-67). The multisectoral domain approach has previously emphasized health sector to make health accessible for everyone, as patients who do not have regular healthcare access are prone to acute care facilities routinely and so are reported to have a higher haemoglobin A1c. Sociocultural factors include characteristics that are shared by a group of individuals within the same belief and norms. It is also possible to associate cultural views and patterns of groups to be conducted through faith, gender or social interaction. Such context has been shown to affect African American, Hispanic, and Indian or otherwise known as Alaskan Native American and many other ethnicities in minority (McCurley et al., 521). To overcome issues caused by sociocultural reasons, laws have been integrated calling for the employment of community workers from minority groups, allowing for high incidence reductions of T2DM. Sociopolitical context embodies the ideology of social and political opinion of an individual which may include but is not limited to, genderism, institutional racism, classism; which may lead to a discrepancy in acquiring similar health access and benefits (Ritchie, et al., 56). A study including a population of Indian-American women has reported to completing fewer diabetes treatments due to discrimination and racism (Misra & Hunte 1-2). Biological Concepts Diabetes is known as a disorder that affects the capacity of the body to homeostatically regulate blood glucose and is otherwise referred to as blood sugar. Diabetes is categorized into two types namely, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus, with the former being reported more frequently amon...