Prevalence Of Diabetes In Sydney And Its Implications

Briefing a CEO or anyone who does not know an issue well is not easy, but it can be achieved by carefully constructing a sequence of relevant focused information. The aim is to produce an effective and influential document.

Issue:

The Issue should indicate the nature of advice being forwarded. It must be completely clear to the CEO from the Issue what they are being asked to consider.

Background/Discussion:

 More detailed information about the subject of the brief that may assist the CEO.

• What is the situation that causes the issue be a concern now?
• What are the impacts of the issue? What is impacted by it?
• What are the risks or ramifications of not resolving the issue?
• What are the scenario models?
• What are the evidence based practice, policy or other changes that impact the outcome (i.e. cost)? What are the risks/benefits, resources etc. of implementing the changes?

Health has been defined as the ability of an organism to sustain normal physiological functions and normal metabolic processes (Nakervis et al. 2013). It has been considered as the ability of human beings to respond to environment stress and adapt accordingly so as to maintain a sound physical and mental well-being (Nakervis et al. 2013). In comparison to the global perspective, it can be said that health has emerged out to be a prime concern. It has been typically observed that certain disorders such as Diabetes, Tuberculosis and Malaria are the most common diseases to affect a segment of population. Statistical data as presented by the research studies state that Diabetes affects the global population to a great extent. Each year the percentage of people affected with diabetes are increasing (Lee et al. 2013). Diabetes in recent times has been associated with the term ‘pandemic disease’. These revelations state that strict actions must be undertaken so as to control the exponential rise of the disease. Further, in context of Sydney, it has been found that the incidence of disease is more than any other region of Australia. Western Sydney has even been regarded as a Diabetes Hotspot. Population shows that Type II Diabetes is the most common disease condition that affects the residents of Sydney. It has further been stated that 35% of the entire population is at a high risk to develop the disorder. 12% of the entire population set has been reported to be affected with low comorbidity Diabetes and 3% to be affected with high comorbidity Diabetes (NCD Risk Factor Collaboration 2016). Therefore, it can be said that the disease is emerging out to be pandemic and requires immediate attention.

This report intends to discuss the prevalence of the disease in context to Sydney. It would proceed with a discussion on the present status of the disease and would further predict the prevalence rate of the disease rate by the year 2032. It would also discuss a set of recommendations that could be undertaken by the health care sector so as to control the emerging incidence of the disease.

This section of the report would discuss the present scenario in context to the incidence of Diabetes in Sydney. Recent population studies have identified Sydney to be a Diabetes hotspot. It should be critically noted here that Sydney hosts a segment of the indigenous population along with the non-indigenous population.  The incidence of the disease has been reported to be on the hike. Recent trends in the population show that, 3% of the total population set is affected with high comorbidity Diabetes type II.  Also, out of the total population set of Sydney, 12% are affected with low comorbidity Diabetes type II and 35% of the population has been identified as the high risk population that is susceptible to develop the disease (NCD Risk Factor Collaboration 2016). On a broader perspective, it can be predicted that if the concern is not addressed on an immediate basis, then more than half of the population would be affected by the disease. It should also be noted that the 35.43% of the aboriginal set of the population is affected with the disorder (NCD Risk Factor Collaboration 2016). This could be primarily due to the lack of awareness and the poor access to health care services. Hence, it can be said that it is high time that the seriousness of the condition is addressed accordingly in order to effectively reduce the prevalence of the disorder. Evaluating the current medical scenario, if the situation is not addressed on an immediate basis then the condition would worsen to an extent where devising a remediation would not be possible.

Background/Discussion

On critical evaluation of the population statistics, it can be said that the disease would impact the population in a devastating manner. The manifestation of the disease would lead to an extensive medical expenditure. At the same time it would also lead to serious health implications among the people. Research studies show that Diabetes Type II has the potential to cause a number of problems such as renal failure, vision impairment and even cardiac arrest (Peters,Huxley and Woodward 2014). In addition to this, it would also elicit a negative impact on the socio-economic status of the people. It would also significantly affect other social health determinants (Grantham et al. 2013). Therefore it is increasingly important to address the emerging scenario as soon as possible so to prevent the negative impact.

Fig: The graph shows the prevalence rate of disease

On evaluating the statistical data collected from the population studies, it can be said that the emergence of the disease would rise to a great extent by the end of the year 2032. Therefore, steps must be taken so to control the rate of emergence and prevent the transmission to subsequent generations.

It must be mentioned here that the critically of the situation must be immediately addressed. This is primarily on account of the negative implications of the disease. Diabetes Type II is a disease condition that hampers the physiological function of the body. The disease has been compared to a condition that leads to the manifestation of a number of health issues such as cardiovascular disorders, mental health issues pertaining to depression and vision impairment (Kirwan et al. 2013). In light of the scenario, it can be stated here that if steps are not taken to incorporate awareness among the people then the scenario would worsen. The medical cost involved in the treatment care of Diabetes. Also a major proportion of the young population would fall prey to the disease. It has been stated by Graves and Zheng (2014), that the condition of Diabetes can lead to serious mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Also, it should be critically noted that Diabetes is a genetic disease which means that it is transmitted from one generation to another through a genetic mechanism (Abouzeid et al.2013). Hence, if the disease rate is not controlled at present it would ultimately spread to the next generation and other subsequent generations. It would significantly hamper the performance ability of the students and the professionals. Studies show that children affected with Diabetes at an early age are poor academic performers and have an intellectual coefficient lower than the normal average (Browne et al. 2013). Therefore it can be said that the risk factors involved with the prevalence of the disease is high and steps must be taken in order to prevent the emerging risk factors.

Current Status of Diabetes in Sydney

Fig: The graph shows the prevalence of diabetes and the effect on the Australian population

On examining the statistical data it can be said that the risk factors involved with the emergence of the disease are fatal. The disease causes visual impairment, renal failure, leg ulcer that has to be treated with amputation and annual death. On evaluating the trend from  the decade 2004-2014, it can be said that the negative impact is on the rise.

In close association to the disease prevalence and the access to health care facilities. It can be stated that 85% of the population could not access GP care primarily because they were bulk-billed and 5% of the population did not visit the GP because of the involved expenditure. Further, more than 64% of the population had to wait more for more than 5 hours on an average to fix an appointment (Dunbar et al. 2014). These facts reveal that there is a need to reform the health care system and make the facilities accessible to the entire population base.

Fig: The graph shows the existing relationship between the prevalence of diabetes and the increasing population

From the graphical interpretation, it is evident that the emergence of the disease is on the rise. In the year 2016, around 24,000 people were diagnosed with diabetes type II. Following the trend of emergence it can be expected that by the year 2012, the proportion of the population being affected with the disease would rise up to 30,000 (Moore et al. 2013). It can further be predicted that by the end of the 2026, more than 30,000 people would be affected with Diabetes type II which would further rise to a figure of 38,000 by the end of the year 2031 (McKnight et al. 2015). Hence, the disease is seen to affect the population at an exponential rate and immediate action must be undertaken in order to control the scenario.

The mortality rate associated with Diabetes is increasing with time. It has been evaluated by the researchers that the primary reason is the lack of awareness. In context of the aboriginal set of population, it can be said that on account of lack of education and awareness about the disease and the associated implications, the scenario has not been controlled as of now. Moreover, studies show that annually the medical cost involved in relation to diabetes from individual to individual is around 2000 Dollars (Schabert et al. 2013). There is a need to reform the existing health care facilities so as to make the detection of the disease as early as possible and at the same time also make it easier for the aboriginal to access the health care facility. Early detection of the blood sugar fluctuation can help in the early detection of the disease (Schabert et al. 2013). This would significantly help in the reduction of the hospitalization rate and hence would also reduce the medical expense (McKnight et al. 2015). On evaluating the situation at a national level it can be said that there is a need to reform the existing policies so as to strengthen health promotion within the aboriginal community and facilitate improved facilities so as to prevent the related risk factors.

Implications of the Disease Prevalence

Conclusion: 

It can be said that Diabetes is emerging out to be a global epidemic. Population studies state that the seriousness of the situation must be addressed on an immediate basis so as to prevent deteriorating implications of the disease. There is an increased need to formulate awareness campaigns so as to educate people about the growth rate of the disease and the consequences associated. At the same time there is a need to incorporate measures so as to prevent the progression of the disease and also detect the disease at an initial phase. This can only be done if appropriate measures are undertaken to control the social health determinants that promote the progression of the disease. Care must be taken to ensure that the residents lead a healthy life with strict adherence to a healthy nutritional intake and fitness activities so that the complications associated with obesity can be avoided. Further, community workshops and chronic illness management programs can also help in spreading awareness to the people to lead a healthy life.

It is expected that on strict compliance with the proposed recommendations, after a time frame of 1 year, positive e changes could be witnessed in terms of the disease ratio. Firstly, there is an alarming need to introduce awareness community programs so as to make the people aware about the disease and the fatal complications.

At the same time, community programs on chronic illness management should also be introduced so to motivate people to lead a healthy life. The chronic illness management program should ideally be arranged across the major locations of the city. It should specially emphasise on educating the indigenous set of population and train people in self-management so that they are able to deal with the disease. Emphasis must be laid on modifying the dietary intake, nutrition status and the inclusion of a fitness regime so that the people are healthy.

Another recommendation would include community distribution of Accu-check devices among the identified high-risk population group so that they are able to track their blood glucose level at every point of time.

Another recommendation would be to offer free diabetic counselling to people affected with diabetes. This would primarily aim the expecting mothers who are diabetic and would offer them with counselling interventions so that they are able to deal with depression related to diabetes (Schabert et al. 2013). It would also aim at offering interventions to the mothers to deal with the possibility of delivering a baby affected with the disease condition.

Emergence of the Disease and Future Projections

Another recommendation would be to arrange insulin and free medication service to the diabetic elderly patients so as to relieve them of the heavy expenditure involved in the disease treatment.

References:

Abouzeid, M., Philpot, B., Janus, E.D., Coates, M.J. and Dunbar, J.A., 2013. Type 2 diabetes prevalence varies by socio-economic status within and between migrant groups: analysis and implications for Australia. BMC public health, 13(1), p.252.

Browne, J.L., Ventura, A., Mosely, K. and Speight, J., 2013. ‘I call it the blame and shame disease’: a qualitative study about perceptions of social stigma surrounding type 2 diabetes. BMJ open, 3(11), p.e003384.

Dunbar, J.A., Jayawardena, A., Johnson, G., Roger, K., Timoshanko, A., Versace, V.L., Shill, J., Philpot, B., Vartiainen, E., Laatikainen, T. and Best, J.D., 2014. Scaling up diabetes prevention in Victoria, Australia: policy development, implementation, and evaluation. Diabetes Care, 37(4), pp.934-942.

Grantham, N.M., Magliano, D.J., Hodge, A., Jowett, J., Meikle, P. and Shaw, J.E., 2013. The association between dairy food intake and the incidence of diabetes in Australia: the Australian Diabetes Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab). Public health nutrition, 16(2), pp.339-345.

Graves, N. and Zheng, H., 2014. Modelling the direct health care costs of chronic wounds in Australia. Wound Practice & Research: Journal of the Australian Wound Management Association, 22(1), p.20.

Harding, J.L., Shaw, J.E., Peeters, A., Guiver, T., Davidson, S. and Magliano, D.J., 2014. Mortality trends among people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Australia: 1997–2010. Diabetes Care, p.DC_140096.

Kirwan, M., Vandelanotte, C., Fenning, A. and Duncan, M.J., 2013. Diabetes self-management smartphone application for adults with type 1 diabetes: randomized controlled trial. Journal of medical Internet research, 15(11).

Lee, C.M.Y., Colagiuri, R., Magliano, D.J., Cameron, A.J., Shaw, J., Zimmet, P. and Colagiuri, S., 2013. The cost of diabetes in adults in Australia. Diabetes research and clinical practice, 99(3), pp.385-390.

McKnight, J.A., Wild, S.H., Lamb, M.J.E., Cooper, M.N., Jones, T.W., Davis, E.A., Hofer, S., Fritsch, M., Schober, E., Svensson, J. and Almdal, T., 2015. Glycaemic control of Type 1 diabetes in clinical practice early in the 21st century: an international comparison. Diabetic Medicine, 32(8), pp.1036-1050.

Moore, E.M., Mander, A.G., Ames, D., Kotowicz, M.A., Carne, R.P., Brodaty, H., Woodward, M., Boundy, K., Ellis, K.A., Bush, A.I. and Faux, N.G., 2013. Increased risk of cognitive impairment in patients with diabetes is associated with metformin. Diabetes care, p.DC_130229.

Nankervis, A., McIntyre, H.D., Moses, R.G., Ross, G.P. and Callaway, L.K., 2013. Testing for gestational diabetes mellitus in Australia. Diabetes Care, 36(5), pp.e64-e64.

NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, 2016. Worldwide trends in diabetes since 1980: a pooled analysis of 751 population-based studies with 4· 4 million participants. The Lancet, 387(10027), pp.1513-1530.

Peters, S.A., Huxley, R.R. and Woodward, M., 2014. Diabetes as risk factor for incident coronary heart disease in women compared with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 64 cohorts including 858,507 individuals and 28,203 coronary events.

Schabert, J., Browne, J.L., Mosely, K. and Speight, J., 2013. Social stigma in diabetes. The Patient-Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, 6(1), pp.1-10.