Challenges Faced by Persons with Diabetes and their Families

Owing to the fact that African Americans are prone to higher rates of being overweight and obesity, they tend to be at higher risks of contracting diabetes and its associated complications e.g. renal failure, stroke, heart disease, and retinopathy. The progression of diabetes from obesity has been said to be the greatest health threat that faces African Americans. Since diabetes is a very demanding illness, it tends to affect not only ailing, but also those closest to them; as such it has been labelled a family disease. To begin with, individuals suffering from diabetes tend to worry too much about the complications of the disease and as such they experience higher levels of stress than others CITATION Lau14 \l 1033 (Williamson, 2014). Because of this, and owing to the fact that African Americans often fall victim to racial discrimination, those affected usually have a limited understanding of the illness and therefore their ability to control the disease by making healthy lifestyle choices becomes hampered. Coupled with depression, managing the illness becomes constrained.

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What challenges families most is the increased irritability of those with the illness. Those with diabetes are usually quick to anger and very easily throw temper tantrums. This is particularly so when the glucose in their blood rises. They experience high instances of emotional variations and their upset is usually difficult for family members to deal with. Such irritability often leads to family disagreements. Another challenge comes in when the patient, once diagnosed, has to change his or her old routines in a great area their life. This change would also has to be adopted by those close to the patient and are deemed necessary so that there is proper management of the disease and the patients health CITATION Mar16 \l 1033 (Marie T Brown, 2016). While this change may be embraced by the patient, others in the family may view it as an infringement. Managing diabetes also involves careful selection of what foods to eat and what not to eat. This means that a whole family has to change its diet as not many African American families can afford to cooking different menus each day.

A familys income also becomes strained as their patients medical bills start pilling. Adjusting to these changes in an attempt to manage diabetes can be very challenging to families and couples. Other challenges that face individuals who suffer from diabetes includes complications that are linked to poorly controlled diabetes. Such complications include eye complications such as cataracts and glaucoma, hypertension, gum disease, nephropathy, gastroparesis, ketoacidosis, hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and increased susceptibility to infections, among others.

Where People Learn about Diabetes among African Americans

Most information about diabetes can be found in medical journals and articles. Magazines such as Readers Digest also give people an opportunity to learn more about the various types of diabetes and the various challenges they bring, regardless of who they affect. A lot of info can also been found on the internet on reliable websites concerning diabetes. Aside from that, people can also learn about the ailments by consulting with friends who have come into close contact with people suffering from diabetes.

Diabetes self-help Websites

Among the most reliable self-help websites is http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com whose author is David Spero. Titled Diabetes Self-Management, this website provides clear and concise information that is very easy to understand. Information on this website ranges from the types of diabetes, information on diabetic cooking, and the other ways of dealing with diabetes. The other website is http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes, authored by Markus MacGill. This websites is also very clear in the information it shares, and this includes the diseases causes, symptoms, and the variety of treatment measures that are available. In addition, this website also has a list of fast facts about diabetes such as the fact that in the 2013, over 382 million people were reported to be suffering from diabetes. Another fast fact is that because the risk of cardiovascular disease relatively higher for someone with diabetes, it is very important that their levels of cholesterol and blood pressure are regularly monitored. Finally, the last self-help website I identified is http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/729221. This website has very useful info about how those suffering from type 2 diabetes can overcome the challenges associated with it, and how overcoming these challenges can improve the health outcome in ailing patients.

Social media websites that allow you to analyze the lived experiences of patients

Three social media websites where one can analyze the lived experiences of patients with diabetes are Diabetes Mine, Diabetes Daily, and Welcome to the Diabetes Stories Website websites. Diabetes mine is a diabetes blog that has a unique mix of news, info, and videos created for and by individuals that have been impacted on by diabetes. The aim of this blog is to provide proficient content that will guide, support, and inspire those affected towards the best probable health outcome. Diabetes daily consists of more than a hundred contributors who live with the disease. There are various stories of various experiences with diabetes on the website, accompanied with a short biography of the authors of the stories. The website exists to help everyone with of affected by diabetes live hopeful, happy, and healthy lives. The final website Welcome to the Diabetes Stories Website consists of various articles that tell stories of various people who have had experiences with the disease.

Steps to Empower Patients with the Disease

Some of the steps involved in empowering patients suffering from the disease include the following

Medical practitioners should start and continue to offer referrals to diabetes education programs and registered dietitians.

They should be provided with info about problem-solving strategies and behavior change to help them cope with their emotional variations. This will empower them make better relationships with their families.

Patients should be provided with the support that will facilitate them in their roles as self-managing decision-makers.

Patients concerns and fears should be well addressed and their opinions need to be ascertained.

Visits to medical practitioners should begin with the patients questions and concerns, and should work towards behavioral and metabolic goals. This will help alleviate their emotions and help make them feel in charge.

Those providing medical care to diabetic patients should emphasize on the importance of the patients role in the management of their ailment.

Medical care for the patients should designed in an environment that it is patient-centered. This will encourage them and make them feel in control of their situation.

On overall, education is key in ensuring that patients feel empowered to combat their situation CITATION Dur13 \l 1033 (Durhane Wong-Rieger, 2013). Professional support, together with health coaching go a long way in motivating patients to take charge of their situation.

References

Durhane Wong-Rieger, F. P. (2013). Health Coaching in Diabetes: Empowering Patients to Self-Manage.

Marie T Brown, D. L. (2016). Overcoming Challenges in Type 2 Diabetes Management to Improve Patient Outcomes. Medscape.

Williamson, L. (2014). 6 Challenges of Aging With Diabetes. Diabetes Forecast.