Characteristics of the aggregate
Hispanics are people whose origins are associated with Spain and Portugal. However, the “US government maintains that Hispanic persons are those that can trace their origin or descent to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America and South America, and other Spanish cultures” (Gutierrez, Gimple, Dallo, Foster & Ohagi, 2011, p. 214). However, it is worth to note that Brazil is not included in the list of origins. Several studies have shown that Hispanics have the highest chances of developing type-2 diabetes. Nonetheless, the probability varies based on the ethnic group of a person and other factors, which may include the time that he or she has lived in America (Nwasuruba, Osuagwu, Bae, Singh & Egede, 2009). In the US, there are about fifty million Hispanics, contributing to sixteen percent of the total population. A recent study conducted to assess the number of Hispanics who have developed type-2 diabetes demonstrated that 16.9% of the Hispanic community in the US is associated with the condition, a relatively high proportion compared with the 10.2% of the non-Hispanic communities. As shown in other populations living in the nation, an increase in age is correlated with an increase in the probability of developing the condition. The prevalence of the disease among Hispanic females is 50%, while for males is 44.3%. An increase in the period that one spends in the US correlates with the chances of developing the disease. Fifty-two percent of all Hispanic diabetic patients are associated with poor ways of controlling blood sugars. Sadly, 49.5% of the people do not have health insurance, implying that they merely access high-quality healthcare services. Various bodies in the nation have been working to reduce the negative impacts caused by diabetes to people from all ethnic groups (Hay, Katon, Ell, Lee & Guterman, 2012). For example, the American Diabetes Association is at the forefront of fighting the disease and helping persons who are affected by it (Leyva, Zagarins, Allen & Welch, 2010). It achieves its goals by funding research on diabetes and delivering healthcare services to thousands of patients.
From the information above, it is evident that the Hispanic community is the most affected group by the health condition in America. Thus, it will be essential to address the group in this project to reduce mortality and prevalence rates in the future. Clearly, type-2 diabetes is a major problem since it affects people across all ages, but its prevalence increases with ages of citizens. As shown by the statistical data, such as prevalence rates and distribution of males and females, there should be effective approaches to preventing the disease in the US. Prevention of type-2 diabetes can be achieved by adopting many strategies, some of which can be based on the geographical locations of patients, gender, and age. However, it appears that geographical areas of Hispanics in the nation do not determine their chances of developing the condition.
The three levels of prevention
From a public health perspective, epidemiology is involved with “preventing and controlling diseases in human populations” (Frieden, 2010, p. 594). In this context, healthcare professionals can apply three levels. Briefly, primary prevention of diseases focuses on reducing the number of new infections and/or diseases within a population. Therefore, it can be argued that it is very effective in preventing infections in people who are susceptible. Secondary prevention is a public health initiative that concentrates on reducing the number of individuals who are already infected with a disease. Finally, tertiary prevention aims at limiting the frequency of disabilities and improving the extent to which patients with complications can function in society. Regarding the three levels of prevention, research has shown that “the natural history of the disease is closely associated with the level that can be applied” (Gutierrez et al., 2011, p. 214).
In this context, all the levels would be used to address the high prevalence rates of type-2 diabetes among Hispanics. Concerning primary prevention, Hispanics would be encouraged to know the various risk factors that are associated with the condition. The primary goal of the prevention level would be creating high levels of awareness among people who have the highest risks of developing the disease (Frieden, 2010). Thus, persons would be taught about the best lifestyle approaches to preventing type-2 diabetes. Apart from fostering healthier lifestyles, Hispanics would be advised to “adopt better methods of stress management” (Frieden, 2010, p. 593). The authorities in various states would be lobbied to ensure that restaurants do not sell food that has excess fat. In addition, healthcare facilities would encourage members of the population to seek medical checkups on an annual basis to detect type-2 diabetes at its earliest stages (Cohen, Neumann & Weinstein, 2008).
Secondary prevention would be used to cure the condition. Early detection of the condition would help to prevent complications at later stages. In fact, research has demonstrated that early diagnosis of type-2 diabetes can contribute to curing it, reduce its rate of progression, and/or decrease the intensity of its adverse impacts on patients and family members. One of the common approaches at this level is regular screening, which is a simple blood sugar test. However, some renal tests might be performed to assess the extent to which the kidneys filter blood sugar from the urine. If some medications are not effective in treating the condition, specialized care should be sought.
Tertiary prevention would involve giving medications and implementing rehabilitative strategies. Examples of measures at this stage include treating diabetics with drugs that prevent further complications. In fact, some complications lead to leg amputation. At the community level, it would be essential to provide facilities that promote healthcare from a holistic perspective (Frieden, 2010).
Conclusion
As demonstrated in this paper, Hispanics have the highest probability of developing type-2 diabetes. However, prevalence rates between males and females differ. The three prevention levels that would be implemented in the project would focus on avoiding new cases, treating infected persons, and educating various age groups on the best approaches to eliminating the negative impacts of the condition.
References
Cohen, J. T., Neumann, P. J., & Weinstein, M. C. (2008). Does preventive care save money? Health economics and the presidential candidates. New England Journal of Medicine, 358(7), 661-663.
Frieden, T. R. (2010). A framework for public health action: the health impact pyramid. American journal of public health, 100(4), 590-595.
Gutierrez, N., Gimple, N. E., Dallo, F. J., Foster, B. M., & Ohagi, E. J. (2011). Shared medical appointments in a residency clinic: an exploratory study among Hispanics with diabetes. Am J Manag Care, 17(6), 212-214.
Hay, J. W., Katon, W. J., Ell, K., Lee, P. J., & Guterman, J. J. (2012). Cost-effectiveness analysis of collaborative care management of major depression among low-income, predominantly Hispanics with diabetes. Value in health, 15(2), 249-254.
Leyva, B., Zagarins, S. E., Allen, N. A., & Welch, G. (2010). The relative impact of diabetes distress vs depression on glycemic control in hispanic patients following a diabetes self-management education intervention. Ethnicity & disease, 21(3), 322-327.
Nwasuruba, C., Osuagwu, C., Bae, S., Singh, K. P., & Egede, L. E. (2009). Racial differences in diabetes self-management and quality of care in Texas. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 23(2), 112-118.