Empowering Change: Rethinking Diabetes for a Healthier Tomorrow
Diabetes continues to be a pressing health issue in the United States, with its prevalence increasing from 10.2% in 2003 to 13.2% in 2020 among adults. Despite the availability of effective treatments, efforts to integrate these into routine clinical practice have stalled, and health inequities persist. The National Clinical Care Commission (NCCC) was established to address these challenges by rethinking diabetes prevention and control strategies.
Understanding the Socioecological Model
The NCCC's approach incorporates elements of the Socioecological Model and the Chronic Care Model, recognizing diabetes as both a biomedical and societal problem. The commission emphasizes the need for public policies that address social and environmental determinants of health, which significantly impact diabetes outcomes.
Key Recommendations for Practitioners
Practitioners can enhance their impact by considering the NCCC's recommendations, which focus on population-level interventions:
- Nutrition and Food Policy: Encourage participation in programs like WIC and SNAP, which can improve nutritional outcomes. Advocating for policies that limit sugar-sweetened beverages and promote healthy food choices is crucial.
- Built and Ambient Environments: Support initiatives that enhance walkability, green spaces, and access to clean water, which can reduce diabetes risk.
- Coordinated Federal Efforts: Advocate for a Health-in-All-Policies (HiAP) approach, ensuring that non-health-related federal agencies consider health impacts in their policies.
Encouraging Further Research
While the NCCC has laid a foundation, further research is essential to explore the interplay between social determinants and diabetes. Practitioners are encouraged to delve deeper into how these factors can be addressed through policy and practice.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Rethinking diabetes in the United States.
