Social Policy - Diabetes
Social Issue – Diabetes Type 2
Examine a contemporary social issue (which may or may not have been covered during the module) paying particular attention as to why this issue has become problematic and for whom. Also, consider what should be done about your chosen issue and any role that nursing/social work might have in dealing with it.
A social issue can be defined as ‘social conditions identified by scientific inquiry and values as detrimental to human well-being’ (Manis 1976). I believe that a social issue can be anything that affects a person in a bad way and affects their standard of living. It could be something from a health problem to something to do with a financial issue within someone’s home. I am going to focus on the health of the public and have chosen to pay attention to the social issue of diabetes type 2. I am going to pay particular attention to why diabetes has become problematic in the community and for who it is causing a problem to.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose level, or your body is unable to use the insulin that is produced (NHS Choices). You are likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are over the age of 40, have a relative with the condition or are overweight. A person is normally thought to have type 2 diabetes if he or she does not have type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) or monogenetic diabetes (WHO). Patients that suffer from type 2 diabetes generally are given dietary guidance so that they can manage their blood sugar and they are also advised to take their blood sugar once a day to make sure that it is regular. Patients should also increase physical activity and control their weight. It is important that diabetes type 2 is controlled so that it doesn’t progressively get worse and lead to diabetes type 1 diabetes which would mean the patient would become insulin dependent.
Diabetes type 2 is problematic for the patient as during everyday living they
Examine a contemporary social issue (which may or may not have been covered during the module) paying particular attention as to why this issue has become problematic and for whom. Also, consider what should be done about your chosen issue and any role that nursing/social work might have in dealing with it.
A social issue can be defined as ‘social conditions identified by scientific inquiry and values as detrimental to human well-being’ (Manis 1976). I believe that a social issue can be anything that affects a person in a bad way and affects their standard of living. It could be something from a health problem to something to do with a financial issue within someone’s home. I am going to focus on the health of the public and have chosen to pay attention to the social issue of diabetes type 2. I am going to pay particular attention to why diabetes has become problematic in the community and for who it is causing a problem to.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose level, or your body is unable to use the insulin that is produced (NHS Choices). You are likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are over the age of 40, have a relative with the condition or are overweight. A person is normally thought to have type 2 diabetes if he or she does not have type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) or monogenetic diabetes (WHO). Patients that suffer from type 2 diabetes generally are given dietary guidance so that they can manage their blood sugar and they are also advised to take their blood sugar once a day to make sure that it is regular. Patients should also increase physical activity and control their weight. It is important that diabetes type 2 is controlled so that it doesn’t progressively get worse and lead to diabetes type 1 diabetes which would mean the patient would become insulin dependent.
Diabetes type 2 is problematic for the patient as during everyday living they
References: A.Scriven and J.Orme (2001). Health Promotion. 2nd ed. Hampshire: Palgarve. 78-80 Lucy Boyd. (2010). Social effects of type 2 diabetes. Available: http://www.livestrong.com/article/222662-social-effects-of-type-2-diabetes/. Last accessed 4th Apr 2013. GOV.UK. (2012). Complications caused by diabetes. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes-type1/Pages/Complications.aspx. Last accessed 2nd Apr 2013. Global Diabetes Community. (2011). Lucentis Injections, Costs and Side Effects. Available: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-medication/lucentis.html. Last accessed 31 mar 2013 Barbara Young. (2011). State of the nation 2012. Available: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Reports/State-of-the-Nation-2012.pdf. Last accessed 5th apr 2013. Jerome G Manis. (1976). Diabetes. Analyzing social problems. 3 (2), 25 Anne Payne and Helen Barker (2010). Advancing Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition. China: Churchill Livingstone. 241-260. NHS Choices. 2012. Diabetes type 2. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Diabetes-type2/Pages/Introduction.aspx Last accessed 11.4.13 Words - 2852