Higher Incidence of Diabetes Among the American Indians and Alaskan Natives - Essay Example

 Higher incidence of diabetes among the American Indians and Alaskan Natives Introduction Health is perhaps the most important aspect of one’s life and it is the basic right of every individual to lead a healthy life. Resources needed for maintaining a healthy life should be provided to all individuals by the society and the governments should aim to take measures that ensure protection of people’s health in general. Disease is not only a cause of discomfort for the individuals suffering from it, but also a cause of increased financial burden on social and national institutions that have to bear this burden directly or indirectly. Interestingly, some diseases are more common among certain groups of population. Although the exact cause of this finding may vary from one case to another, it appears that genetic differences and racial or ethnic differences play a major role in this regard. Diabetes is affecting the lives of certain groups of American population in a disproportionate manner and is therefore resulting in a number of health related, social and financial problems; not only for the individuals suffering from the disease, but also for those who are directly or indirectly involved with the patients. Diabetes is relatively more common among the American Indians and Alaskan Natives (Joslin and Kahn 514). The exact cause of why this disease affects these populations disproportionately is as yet unknown. With the passage of time, this disease is becoming more and more common among the people of young age belonging to these races and ethnicities. The prevalence of diabetic disease is three times higher in American Indians and Alaskan Natives as compared to other American adults of similar ages. It is therefore essential to take corrective actions regarding prevention of diabetes in this population. Discussion As compared to other minorities, American Indian and Alaskan natives are extremely small in number and the term is used to refer to individuals having origins in the original people of South America and other people of the North that maintain tribal affiliation. The largest population of American Indians and Alaskan natives resides in California, Oklahoma, Arizona, texas, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Washington, Alaska and Michigan. Alaskan villages harbor the majority of Alaskan natives (Shinagawa & Jang 98). Diabetes is a disease that results due to the inability of a person to maintain an appropriate level of sugar in blood. This, in most cases is the result of under-functioning pancreas or the inability of insulin to work effectively due to production of antibodies that render insulin less-effective or useless. Management of diabetes is a challenge not only for the medical professionals, but also for the patients and their families. Oral medication and insulin injections are required to maintain optimum level of blood sugar in diabetic patients. Diabetic lifestyle demands a number of changes in the patterns of food intake to fulfill the requirements that arise secondary to altered metabolism. Moreover, the patients need education regarding prevention of diabetic complications which may range from mild manifestations to drastic outcomes like amputations or diabetic ketoacidosis. Additionally, due to altered glycemic status, diabetic individuals are more prone to common infections which indirectly increase mortality in this group of population. Taking a closer look at the issue reveals that Native Americans face a 50-100% higher burden of diabetes when compared to their white American counterparts. The American Indians and the Alaskan Natives demonstrate a highest prevalence of diabetes when compared to any other ethnic or racial groups, i.e. >16%. Consequently the death rate secondary to diabetes among these groups is three times higher than general population. Morbidity due to renal disease is also 3.5 times higher than general population of the US (Chow et al 132). Keeping in view these facts and figures, it is safe to assert that the situation is alarming, not only for the population involved, but also for the health system of United States in general. It is essential to note that genetics plays a prominent role in the development and prevalence of diabetes in American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Full-blooded Natives have a higher risk of developing the disease as compared to others. In certain families of some natives, diabetes takes on a familial form, which is an observation that supports the genetic hypothesis of diabetes in American Indians and Alaskan Natives. A genetic defect that results in insulin resistance is commonly observed among individuals of such groups. Another major factor that is contributory towards the development of diabetes among American Indians and Alaskan Natives is obesity (Mauk 34). Regarded as one of the major risk factors of diabetes, obesity is extremely common among individuals of these groups. Increased waist-to-hip ratio is becoming increasingly common among these populations. This has been attributed to a number of factors; however, two main factors that contribute to obesity are a sedentary lifestyle and consumption of food that has a high calorific value. Speaking in socioeconomic terms, it is clear that since individuals of these groups have limited opportunities for economic growth, they are forced to opt for food choices that include fats as a major content. This therefore results in obesity among members of these groups. Taking a closer look at the lifestyle of these populations reflects that patterns of diet and activity are undergoing rapid transformation. These groups were traditionally involved in occupations like hunting and agriculture. These activities require a lot of physical strength and exertion to meet the needs of the profession. Such strenuous physical activity helps in limiting accumulation of fats in the body, which is regarded as being protective against diabetes. However, with the passage of time and due to rapidly changing national and international working scenario, the American Indians and Alaskan Natives have adopted newer professions which are not necessarily as physically demanding as agriculture or hunting. Consequently, newer professions are indirectly contributing towards development of diabetes in American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Moreover, the dietary patterns of American Indians and Alaskan Natives have changed. Due to disruption of traditional agricultural practices, the major bulk of diet that is consumed by American Indians and Alaskan Natives is now made up of fats (Goody & Drago 4). Fats are regarded as high-calorie diet and are contributory towards the development of diabetes. An alternate choice is the use of foods containing high carbohydrates, since they are inexpensive; a choice that demands the pancreas to function excessively due to the hyperglycemia that results after meals. This repeated overload is another factor that renders the pancreas malfunctioning, which then manifests as diabetic symptoms. Another major change is the mode of transportation that is witnessed in their lifestyles. Due to improved means of transportation, physical activity level has declined leading to sedentary mode of living (Cahill 47). Various studies have demonstrated that decreased level of activity is contributory towards the development of diabetes. Keeping in view the above discussion, it appears that the mortality of American Indians and Alaskan Natives secondary to diabetes is seriously underreported and further research is warranted to bring forth the real picture of the situation. Moreover, since these groups are facing rapid deterioration in their health status secondary to increasing incidence of diabetes, the concerned authorities should develop a plan to limit the occurrence of disease to subsequent generations of individuals in these groups. Keeping in view the multifactorial origin of the disease, it is essential to understand that any plan should involve the services of all concerned bodies to make it possible for the plan to be effective in the long run. Based on the above findings, any plan to overcome the issue should include the following: Education American Indians and Alaskan Natives individual should be educated regarding the deleterious effects of diabetes and the factors that cause them. They should be informed how lifestyle changes and eating habits can contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes. They should be guided about the prospect of bringing positive changes in their lifestyle and how such changes can benefit them in the long run. In addition they should be educated about handling the various aspects of disease. Families that are currently experiencing the problem need to be educated about prevention of complications that arise secondary to diabetes. Social actions The concerned authorities should take into consideration the fact that the native style of earning a living has been replaced due to numerous modern advancements. The American Indians and Alaskan Natives should be encouraged to adopt professions that demand a high level of physical activity; a change that is likely to decrease fat accumulation in the body and hence prevent diabetes development. Moreover, the American Indians and Alaskan Natives should be provided ample opportunities to adopt professions with high fiscal yield; improved financial status will allow them to include high-protein, low-fat, low-calorie items in their diet, thereby preventing the individuals from developing diabetes. Health The health sector of the country should be instructed to develop programs targeted at reducing diabetes incidence among the American Native Indians and Alaskan Natives. These programs should take into consideration the living conditions of these individuals and take actions that can ultimately reduce diabetes incidence and improve their health conditions. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, it can be concluded that American Indians and Alaskan Natives are a special group of population that is undergoing health issues pertaining to diabetes. These issues are not only creating health problems for the American Indians and Alaskan Natives but also a cause of disease burden on the national health care system. There is a need to take immediate action regarding correction of the above mentioned issues, since the problem will continue to aggravate if it is left unattended. References Cahill, Michael. Transport, Environment and Society. Maidenhead, U.K: Open University Press, 2010. Print. Chow, Edward A., Henry Foster, Victor Gonzalez, and LaShawn McIver. "The disparate impact of diabetes on racial/ethnic minority populations." Clinical Diabetes 30, no. 3 (2012): 130-133. Goody, Cynthia M, and Lorena Drago. Cultural Food Practices. Chicago, Ill: American Dietetic Association, 2010. Print. Joslin, Elliott P, and C R. Kahn. Joslin's Diabetes Mellitus. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Willkins, 2005. Print. Mauk, Kristen L. Gerontological Nursing: Competencies for Care. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2010. Print. Shinagawa, Larry H, and Michael Jang. Atlas of American Diversity. Walnut Creek [u.a.: Altamira Press, 1998. Read More