Community-Based Diabetes Programs: A Qualitative and Quantitative Study Among African American Diabetics Of New York City

Abstract

Ertha Cedrine Sefu Omba

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body process food for use as energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas is the key factor to diabetes. The immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas resulting in low levels or no insulin (type 1) or cannot use the insulin made by the pancreas leading to type 2 diabetes. As a chronic disease, diabetes prevalence rates continue to increase each year. In 2012, there were 29.1 million persons have diabetes in the US with a projection of 64 million by 2050 [2]. Diabetes is a chronic disease that greatly affects New Yorkers. Among an estimated of 987,000 New Yorkers who have diabetes, 19% of them were not unaware of their condition thus were not receiving any treatments [3]. Adults with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease and a greater chance of having a stroke or angina [4]. Quantitative and qualitative researches were done through analysis of demographic variables as well as through evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the different public health programs as well as the impact of these services on the overall health of African American living with diabetes. Screening programs have been found to provide healthier behavior lifestyle for diabetes intervention especially the ones targeting African American participants aged of 45 and above. Further study will focus on physicians and health professionals’ perceptions on physical activity and their role to create awareness on patient’s lifestyle behaviors to break barriers to care.

PDF