Type 2 Diabetes Epidemic in Miami-Dade County - Term Paper Example

? Community Nursing Project: The Issue of Type 2 Diabetes in Miami-Dade County Due Identification of the problem Type 2 Diabetes epidemic in Miami-Dade County County Miami-Dade County, Florida USA Demographic characteristics of the place Miami-Dade County Population, as of 2012, estimated, 2, 591,035 The population of Miami-Dade County is diverse. White- 77.6%, Black or African American-19.2%, Hispanic or Latino- 64.3%, along with low percentages of pacific islanders and people of mixed ethnicity. Women hold the majority at 51.4% of the population. 51.2% are peoples are immigrants from another country and 14.5% is made up of people over the age of 65 (The United States Census Bureau, 2013). Geographic Boundaries Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. It is the most populous county in Florida and they rank seventh-most in population within the United States. It is Florida's third largest county in terms of overall land area, with approximately, 1,946 square miles. The county is home to 35 incorporated cities, as well as, a number of unincorporated areas. The northern, central and eastern portions of the county are heavily urbanized with many high rises along the coastline. Southern Miami-Dade County includes the Redland and Homestead areas and the Agricultural Redland makes up roughly one third of Miami-Dade County's inhabited land area. It is said to be sparsely populated, in comparison with the heavily populated urban, northern Miami-Dade County (The United States Census Bureau, 2013). Statistics . Miami-Dade County Florida is a heavily diverse population, like many states in the United States, primarily made up of Caucasians, Hispanics, primarily people of Cuban decent, and Non-Hispanic Black individuals, many of which are of Haitian decent (Rosen, 2007). In Miami-Dade County, approximately, 181,000 people are living with diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2013). Most unsettling is the majority of death from diabetes or diseases and conditions contracted, such as contributory obesity, hypertension, and heart disease, is highest in Miami-Date County as of 2010 (Edwell, Danielson, Smide & Ohrn, 2010). Non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic Caucasians are the most affected. For black Americans the mortality rates due to diabetes or diabetes related conditions are double that of their white counterparts (The Health Council of South Florida, 2008). Miami-Dade County, also, has a large over-60 retiree population, who are also being adversely affected by the prevalence of diabetes. Nursing Diagnosis It is readily obvious that the diabetic epidemic is a serious health concern worthy of further investigation and study Planning Nursing Interventions It is readily obvious that the diabetic epidemic is a serious health concern worthy of further investigation and study. There is a mass need for greater focus on education, both, for healthcare professionals and for the patients who are diagnosed with a type 2 diagnosis treatment. The dangers of the disease and the serious diseases that diabetes opens the doors for, can and will, alter, damage, or end your life. More importantly is necessity of spreading the message that, under many circumstances, entirely preventable. If this message and greater support were more available then perhaps a dramatic and tangible reduction in the diagnoses of type 2 diabetes will be possible. Short term Goals Short term goals would likely include practical and more available of resources for patients. To establish plans for future endeavors that will help to affect the statistics. Also, perform research on what sorts of educational and healthcare interventions that may be the most beneficial to implement. For example support groups for patients vs. some sort of counseling to motivate individuals. Long term Goals In the long term it will really be a matter of determining what our research will show. Ideally, the long term would see the realization of more ethnically diverse, economically sensitive, and aid in the support and education available everywhere for all citizens of Miami-Dade County. Evaluation Teaching As previously stated, there will be a necessity to commit to gaining and sharing, and increasing knowledge about all the aspects of the disease, both for healthcare professionals and patients alike. Recommendations As stated previously, there is no simple solution to the issues that contribute to, cause, and result from this disease that is escalating in Miami-Dade County, the state of Florida, throughout the United States, and the whole world. There is a necessary amount of accountability that we must take. Education needs to be available, to all residents of Miami-Dade County that can reach, both, the wealthy and the poor, improving the numbers of diabetes throughout the county, with less racial and cultural bias (Nobles, 2012). Community involvement is, also, a very essential aspect. Resources Available in the Community Miami-Dade County is already planning a “Diabetes Walk,” which is schedules for September of this year; this along with the health fair, planned for later in the year, are fantastic ways to get education, health support, and suggestions as to how to make healthy lifestyle changes (The American Diabetes Association, 2013). Conclusion Diabetes is officially considered, in the realm of healthcare, an epidemic in the United States and a pandemic throughout the world. This condition can reach people of different cultures, ethnicities, ages, and genders. For this reason, understanding its causes, treatments, and, possible, preventions to the disease are essential to turning the tide on the rise and spread of Diabetes. In the end, type 2 diabetes is the kind of sickness with the potential to overwhelm the populations all over the world; the irony is that it is highly preventable, in many cases, as well as, controllable with simple proper diets and exercise. There is no reason that Miami-Dade County cannot be the first community that begins setting precedent, meeting the needs of all the citizens, inclusive of all cultural and ethnic diversity, provides needed health care and education to all affected parties, and makes tangible and calculable change that could conceivably inspire how the rest of the country approaches the diabetes epidemic in their communities. Again, finding a singular solution will, likely, not be sufficient to address the diabetes issue; the solutions must be layered and be as multifaceted as the disease that they hope to fight. References  Edwell, L., Danielson, E., Smide, B., & Ohrn, I. (2010). Interaction between patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetes nurse specialists during annual check-ups: A study using video recordings - see more at. The Internet Journal of Advanced Nursing Practice, 11(1), 1. Retrieved from http://archive.ispub.com/journal/the-internet-journal-of-advanced-nursing-practice/volume-11-number-1/interaction-between-patients-with-type-2-diabetes-and-diabetes-nurse-specialists-during-annual-check-ups-a-study-using-video-recordings.html Nobles, K. (2012). Managing type ii diabetes within the hispanic community. RN Journal , 1. Retrieved from http://rnjournal.com/journal-of-nursing/managing-type-ii-diabetes-within-the-hispanic-community Rosen, A. (2007). The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the miami-haitian community. The Journal of Ethnicity and Disease, 17(Autumn), 55-54. Retrieved from http://www.ishib.org/journal/17-4s5/ethn-17-04s5-3.pdf American Diabetes Association. (2013). Diabetes basics: Type 2. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-2/ The American Diabetes Association. (2013). In my community: Miami, florida. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/local-offices/miami-florida/ The Health Council of South Florida. (2008, February 29). Racial and ethnic health disparities in miami-dade county. Retrieved from http://www.doh.state.fl.us/compass/CountyAssessment/CountyContent/MiamiDade/MiamiDade_Racial_and_Ethnic_Health_Disparities.pdf The United States Census Bureau, (2013). Miami-dade county florida. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12086.html Read More