Introduction
Diabetes mellitus is arguably the most prominent metabolic disorder. The effects of this condition can easily impact various functionalities within the human body. This health condition is often chronic and its most common characteristics include “hyperglycemia with long-term microvascular (retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) and macrovascular (cardiovascular) complications” (Castillo, Giachello & Arrom 2010). Diabetes mellitus comes in various forms but the general classification is Type One (DM1) and Type Two (DM2), with the latter accounting for almost ninety percent of all recorded cases. The gravity of the diabetes epidemic has necessitated the exploration of new ways of preventing and managing the disease. Consequently, health professionals and other stakeholders have put in place various measures of preventing diabetes.
The holistic prevention approach introduces an unconventional method of combating the diabetes menace. Wholeness or holistic science in the management of diabetes “is a system of preventive care that takes into account the whole individual, one’s own responsibility for one’s wellbeing, and the total influences…social psychological, environmental…that affect health, including nutritional, exercise and mental relaxation” (Castillo, Giachello & Arrom 2010). A holistic human image is one of the least explored tools of tackling diabetes in modern times. The holistic image of man refers to “the state in which a person is able to function well physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually in order to express the full range of one’s unique potentialities within the environment in which one is living” (Rydén, Grant & Anker 2013). The success of the holistic management of diabetes depends on several modifiable humanistic complications such as obesity, blood pressure, lack of physical activity, dyslipedemia, and smoking. There is also the issue of environmental factors in the course of diabetes management. Self-management of DM is subject to various environmental factors that contribute towards the formation of humanistic behaviors such as lifestyle patterns. Various holistic human images have been used in the DM prevention agenda but none in particular has found absolute favor over the others. This paper will use a review of various literatures with a view of establishing which humanistic images are most effective in the management of DM, and the environmental factors that support significant holistic DM self-management practices.
Literature Review
Historical Issues in Diabetes Prevention
In the course of history, the research on diabetes management has involved thousands of researchers from different fields of medicine and from all over the world. In recent years, researchers have managed to make various advances on how to ease, at least to a certain merit, life of people diagnosed with diabetes. Holistic medicine can be traced as far back as the Greek Civilization and the concept was first propagated by Hippocrates. Holistic approach to patient care in regards to diabetes prevention is only a few decades old and it has mostly relied on scientific discoveries. The use of humanistic images to manage diabetes has also relied on people’s ability to treat both symptoms and illnesses. On the other hand, throughout history humanistic images of the human person have been shaped by both religion and other secular views. The universal humanistic image depends on a person’s ability and willingness to participate in social responsibilities and ecological preservation efforts. The Christian image is consisted of a person’s ability to overcome basic instincts.
Risk Centric Behaviors
Most of the scholars who have covered DM’s holistic management agree that this approach is necessitated by DM’s evolutionary tactics (Rydén, Grant & Anker 2013). The initial management practices when dealing with the condition keep changing from time to time. This challenge incorporates a vital aspect of holistic learning. For instance, diabetes is associated with various other conditions such as obesity, lifestyle habits, and high blood pressure. The varied aspects of diabetes make holistic learning compatible with the prevention and management of the condition. Another study catalogs all the factors that contribute towards high/low cases of DM. These factors include: “obesity, low birth weight, ethnicity, family history, increasing age, physical inactivity, low-fiber diet, high-fat, urbanization, insulin resistance, hypertension, impaired glucose-regulation, and age” (Castillo, Giachello & Arrom 2010).
Evidence-based Lifestyle Strategies
There are several approaches to instituting behavior changes with the view of diabetes prevention. According to Satterfield and Volansky, “lifestyle modification requires behavior change, therefore, counseling is necessary…(and) should employ evidence-based behavior change techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing” (2012). This approach capitalizes on peoples’ desire to pursue good health by overcoming any personal barriers. For instance, a person can pursue self-management in diabetes by overcoming any impediments to change and prioritizing on risk factors, practicing self-efficacy, and increasing their confidence. Nevertheless, research indicates that success in self-management has to involve a certain level of environmental congruence and holistic human images. For example, in environments where family-ties are an important part of the social fabric, the holistic diabetes-management approach leans towards this angle.
Environmental factors are also significant to the holistic management of diabetes. According to a study that was carried out in India and Finland, it was clear that lifestyles that lean on environmental factors affect diabetes-intervention efforts. Diabetes is a complex condition and it has far-reaching impacts on an individual’s quality of life. Therefore, the ability to prevent the disease during its onset or in its early stages has a significant effect on the management of the disease. On the other hand, research has indicated that diabetes is a condition that is most effectively addressed in the community level. In the United States, researchers conducted a trial in which the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention and that of using a medical approach were compared (Castillo, Giachello & Arrom 2010). In this study, it was clear that lifestyle intervention provides better results when they are compared to medical-based interventions.
Humanistic Image of Man and Diabetes Prevention
The general humanistic image of a human being in medicine is especially important for people who are to manage their conditions, such as diabetes. In addition, the humanistic image of man focuses on the psychological and social aspects of overcoming the difficulties that are caused by a disease. In diabetes management, a holistic view calls for a re-evaluation of all the factors that are contained within a certain system-systems theory. Given the complexity of the factors that affect the psychological state of an individual, the implementation of the humanistic image for managing diabetes is only possible within the interdisciplinary approach that would involve other than just biological aspects. The objective of utilizing the humanistic image for those who are diagnosed with diabetes is to employ the various scientific branches that are concerned with studying a human body, mind, and practices, spiritual and socio-economic life. Most individuals use their constructions of humanistic images to adopt a holistic approach to diabetes management through the grounded theory of information packaging. Both Christian and universal humanistic images can be utilized in the formation of a holistic image.
Changes in lifestyle compliment and supplement metabolic methods of diabetes control. Furthermore, lifestyle changes also contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular ailments. A multicenter for research conducted a study that was “aimed at comparing the effects of intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) on the incidence of major cardiovascular events among individuals with T2DM” (Rydén, Grant & Anker 2013). The study found that in a period of within four years, controlled lifestyle intervention produced a significant less risk of cardiovascular illnesses, obesity, cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Lifestyle strategies have the capacity to achieve various goals in the holistic management of DM. Behavior and lifestyle changes produce a significant decrease in the cost of managing DM. This trend became obvious through the recorded results of a subgroup from a study that was analyzing the significance of diabetes prevention. According to the study, “lifestyle strategies, unlike pharmacotherapy, are not limited by side effects and tolerability” (Rydén, Grant & Anker 2013). Some human images can factor in various lifestyle strategies including changing appearances and moving away from traditions. One study found that in situations where one family member has committed him/herself to lifestyle changes the support of his/her family members increases the chances of successful diabetes management. The study also indicated that in some subcultures, pursuing non-medical interventions amounts to pretention or even sacrilege (Teixeira 2010). The researchers in this study conclude that the most effective behavior and lifestyle changes in management of DM include self-monitored diets, exercise and stress management.
Most research studies on the management of DM conclude that behavior change is important to the achievement of this goal. According to Teixeira, “a rational treatment approach to a disease, including T2DM, is based upon the understanding of basic psychological cues” (2010). This DM study basis its thesis on the fact that most of the individuals who suffer from DM2 recognize the importance of physical activities but they remain physically inactive. This study recommends patient counseling as one strategy that can unlock the ‘psychological block’ of most DM patients. The researcher reckons that stimulating behavioral change among DM patients can be achieved through counseling. The paper concludes by noting that “central to the success of motivational interviewing is willingness of physicians to spend a few minutes of a patient’s appointment listening to physical activity goals and providing appropriate feedback” (Satterfield & Volansky 2012).
Results
The literature review revealed various patterns in regards to the environmental factors and human images that apply to holistic DM management. As far as the lifestyle-related strategies are concerned, it is necessary to note that one of the most important facets of prevention effort is minimization of risk behaviors among the populous. It is essential to develop proper diets for people of different ages with the view of decreasing the risk of developing diabetes. Adjustment of risk behaviors can be in form of written guidelines or intervention programs. The issue of environment does not feature prominently in diabetes prevention although it is relevant to culture and human images. On the other hand, there is a close connection between DM and other chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.
Lifelong lifestyle changes are an important strategy in DM prevention. This strategy also requires to be combined with psychological counseling that is centered towards patients. Motivational interviews are often an effective method of increasing patient’s commitment to changes in lifestyles. It has been found that effective counseling has enabled people to adjust their lifestyles and improve their health conditions. The literature review also found out that lifestyle modifications are cost-effective although they often require significant funds to kick-start. Furthermore, unlike pharmacotherapy that addresses only one risk factor, lifestyle, and behavior modification approaches address numerous risk factors. In addition, review of literature indicates that these two strategies lead to considerable improvements in people’s health conditions and good diabetes management results in general.
The literature review indicated that the culture/family factor features prominently in the holistic management of DM. Individuals whose kin suffer from DM can help or slow down the efforts of diabetes management. This view was collaborated by various other studies that connected family image issues to diabetes management. One study indicated that diabetes management is set to benefit from ‘friendly’ cultural practices and human image issues. Lack of environmental support for various behavior changes was found to be a major stumbling block in the efforts to attain DM prevention and management.
The results also indicate a tendency to use training as one way of combating the diabetes pandemic because it focuses on both health professionals and the public interests. Currently, there are several organizations that focus on diabetes-centered training on primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The holistic human image has been a model of choice when pursuing diabetes training. This approach takes into consideration “all aspects of a patient’s needs, as it relates to health training” (Teixeira 2010). This training is also subject to cultural practices, the environment, and social the prevailing human image issues.
Discussion
Among modern medical scientists, the research of diabetes is one of the topics to be most focused on because it includes thousands of researchers in different fields of medicine from all over the world. In recent years, professionals have managed to achieve significant progress concerning “how to ease at least to a certain merit, the life of people diagnosed with diabetes” (Satterfield & Volansky 2012). Another significant advancement that has been made in the last couple of decades concerning people who suffer from terminal and chronic medical conditions is the implementation of the holistic medicine techniques that work from a point of ‘totality’. These approaches aim to find and apply the different ways of treatments that involve not only the biological aspects of human beings, but also other spheres of wellness including paying attention to the psychological, spiritual, mental, social, and emotional health of the patients (Teixeira 2010). Currently, there is a direct correlation between the general humanistic image of a human being in medicine and other factors such as culture, environment, religious practices, and body-image issues.
Studies have also indicated that it is especially important for people who are managing continuous medical conditions such as diabetes to adopt behavior changes because they focus on the psychological and social aspects of overcoming difficulties caused by a disease. Given the complexity of the factors that affect the psychological state of an individual, the implementation of the humanistic image for managing diabetes is only possible within the interdisciplinary approach that would involve other than just biological aspects, including social and economic nuances. The objective of formatting the humanistic image for those who are diagnosed with diabetes is to employ various scientific branches that are concerned with studying a human body, mind, practices, spiritual and socio-economic life, to ensure the effective functioning of those individuals on all the levels, rather than just treating the symptoms. The psychological and social comfort not only provides the ground for more self-awareness but it also ensures that those individuals are not left out of the workplaces and social/cultural circles. Consequently, this approach as a system is beneficial to the entire society since it involves the inclusion of all its members.
Contemporary diabetes treatment is related to dietary and lifestyle self-management. In this context, it is clear that the complex humanistic approach is directed to the wider range of issues that are concerned with diabetes. Furthermore, at the management stage diabetes cannot be cured; although it appears to create not only physical but also social and psychological discomfort for the people who are diagnosed with it (Satterfield & Volansky 2012). The lifestyle awareness will allow them to feel more humane and included in their social and environmental contexts. With the implementation of self-management it is possible to change not only the attitude of those have diabetes but also the general public’s attitudes towards behavior and lifestyle changes.
Conclusion
The overall management and prevention of diabetes can be enhanced through the implementation of holistic learning. The condition has various issues that challenge the validity of the current prevention methods. A holistic learning approach is set to reduce instances of diabetes whilst improving the quality of life of patients and the overall productivity of the society. The holistic approach can be applied to three main areas of diabetes and prevention with the view of revitalizing the whole process. One of the key priorities in the prevention of diabetes is coming up with measures that go beyond clinical interventions.
References
Castillo, A., Giachello & Arrom, J 2010, “Community-based diabetes education for Latinos Diabetes Empowerment Education Program”, The Diabetes Educator, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 586-594.
Kutty, B & Raju, R 2009, “New vistas in treating diabetes-insight into a holistic approach”, Indian Journal of Medical Research, vol. 131, no. 5, pp. 606-608.
Rydén, L., Grant, P & Anker, D 2013, “ESC Guidelines on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases developed in collaboration with the EASD”, European Heart Journal, vol. 34, no. 39, pp. 3035-3087.
Satterfield, D & Volansky, M 2012, “Community-based lifestyle interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes” Diabetes Care, vol. 26, no. 9, pp. 2643-2652.
Teixeira, E 2010, “The effect of mindfulness meditation on painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in adults older than 50 years”, Holistic Nursing Practice, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 277-283.