Free Essay. Implications of the Social Determinants of Health

Diabetes mellitus, according to Clark and Utz (2014), is one of the major causes of mortality in the United States. It affects more than 25 million Americans and places them at a high risk of other health complications, such as stroke, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and blindness (Clark & Utz, 2014). However, despite these scary statistics, there still exist many health disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment of diabetes-related diseases in the US. This essay explores the intersection of social determinants of health and health equity in diabetes types 1 and 2 through the lens of a Registered Nurse (RN) and suggests an effective approach to eliminating these discrepancies.

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The social determinants of health which are the socio-ecological factors that influence the health of diabetic individuals in the US include community infrastructure or the built environment, community support and culture, access to medical care, educational attainment, and economic stability or status (Clark & Utz, 2014). According to Jack et al. (2012), in the US, diabetes as a public health issue has a disproportionate impact on Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, Asians, Hispanics, and African Americans. From the perspective of an RN, the connection between social determinants of health and health equity is that these factors adversely affect the healthcare outcomes for individuals, particularly racial minorities.

Consequently, there is a need for a public health approach to eliminate the health disparities in diabetes, such as the development of economic and public policies to ameliorate the effects of the social determinants of health. According to Jack et al. (2012), these policies will help reduce the impacts of the socioeconomic inequalities that disparate populations experience. Examples of such interventions include those aimed at improving environmental support, psychological functioning of individuals, and provider-patient interactions. They should also be targeted at enhancing the social, cultural, and economic conditions such as employment opportunities in minority communities (Jack et al., 2012). Health professionals such as RNs should also play a role in improving healthcare access to people disproportionately affected by diabetes mellitus and educate them on how best to reduce vulnerability to diabetes, such as by eating healthy foods.

References

Clark, M.L., & Utz, S.W. (2014). Social determinants of type 2 diabetes and health in the United States. World Journal of Diabetes, 15 (3), 296-304. DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i3.296.

Jack, L., Jack, N.H., & Hayes, S.C. (2012). Social determinants of health in minority populations: A call for multidisciplinary approaches to eliminate diabetes-related health disparities. Diabetes Spectrum, 25(1), 9-13.