Characteristics of Diabetes
This essay shed light on diabetes and its impact on the healthcare system of Australia within a context of global. Diabetes is a major burden on the healthcare system and people with diabetes have incurred an average medical expenditure of 16,789 per year. People who have the diabetes have expenditures on medical almost 2.3 more than those who have no diabetes. Many cases of death due to diabetes are reported every year (Phelan et al., 2017). Therefore, it is necessary to focus on this health issue and measure the preventive initiatives to reduce this global health issue.
Figure 1: Diabetes charcteristics
(Source: Speight et al., 2021)
Diabetes is a disease that occurs while the blood glucose also called as the blood sugar it’s meant to be too high. It is a chronic health situation that affects the body and turns food into energy. Diabetes is categorized into two divisions such as type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes (Speight et al., 2021). In diabetes people have experienced increased thirst, extreme hunger, high frequent urination, unexplained weight loss. In diabetes, people may experience fatigue and irritability. As per Abdoli et al., (2018), there are three P’s of diabetes are present such as polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia. These terms mainly show or correspond to the increased level in urination, thirst and appetite respectively. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease featured by increased resistance of insulin, decreased function of beta cell. The prevalence of this disease has grown continuously around this globe and its complication may provoke economic and special loss (who.int, 2022). In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas has not made insulin or forms very little amount of insulin. Insulin supports the blood sugar enter in the cells in the body for utilize as the energy. Without the insulin, the blood sugar cannot get into the cells and forms in the entire bloodstream (diabetesaustralia.com.au, 2022).
Figure 2: Prevalence of Diabetes in Australia
(Source: aihw.gov.au, 2022
In Australia the cases of diabetes increase almost up to 3 million people of Australia over the age of 25 years may have the diabetes by 2025 (aihw.gov.au, 2022). Type 2 diabetes has been increased by rising obesity, dietary changes, aging population and because of sedentary lifestyles. The government of Australia has addressed diabetes nationally. Several initiatives and programs may help to treat or cure diabetes related issues. The government of Australia has developed the Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2021-2030 to give priority the national response of diabetes (Foster et al., 2019). The National Diabetes Service Scheme mainly provides the support and products or services to the people with diabetes who have registered with the scheme (Hagger et al., 2018).
In Australia, Diabetes manages the NDSS by an agreement with the Australian government. Agents of NDSS are given in each state and also in territory in Australia to give NDSS services for both the health professionals and consumers (health.gov.au, 2022). This NDSS program has been supported by the Australian government through funding such as foot forward, keepsight, type 2 and me and baby steps (Foster et al., 2019). These all are programs of NDSS that are supported and sponsored by the Australian government (Harris, Tompkins & TeHiwi, 2017). The Australian National Diabetes Audit has reported on the benchmarking and auditing of the services of diabetes. The Medical Research Future Fund and the National Health and Medical Research Council fund has researched diabetes. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has supported the surveillance on national level and evaluation of the disease including diabetes.
Different Ways of Managing Issue within Australia
Diabetes is a global burden and it has an impact on the health system within the world. China has the highest number of diabetes in the world. In Australia, the Strategy of National Diabetes has been applied the designation of the diabetes as the main or National Health Priority Area in previous years (idf.org, 2022). In Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia have experienced greater prevalence of the diabetes than in other populations. The death rate is linked with the diabetes for the people of 35-54 years is 27-35 times that of the non indigenous people of Australia.
On the other hand, in the United States, almost 29 million people will be diagnosed with diabetes in 2019. In total approximately 37 million adults have diabetes in which almost 8.5 million have undiagnosed. Diabetes is a major issue or health burden of the United States. In the United States, the National Diabetes Education Program has been launched for improving the management and prevention of diabetes (Laurie & McIntyre, 2020). The National Committee for Quality Assurance uses Comprehensive Diabetes Care that can measure or examines the quality of the services of diabetes that are given by the care plans. There are four stages to manage diabetes as per the guidelines of the United States government. There is a need to learn about diabetes (Life & Health, 2022), knowing the diabetes ABCs and people need to learn how to live with the diabetes and they can get routine care to stay healthy. In the US, patients of diabetes on the Medicaid has aimed to have the lower level final checking rates for the procedures in comparison to those on the Medicare type of insurance. The annual level of lipid testing and the renal work test rates have substantially lesser in the Alaska Natives and American Indians than the general populations (McIntyre et al., 2020).
The HbA1c control for the patients in the Australia has aimed to be good than the patients in the US. Although the United States performs better in management of diabetes in comparison to Australia. Australia is lagging in the data collection process as they have no data on national level of diabetes care for the indigenous populations (Meloncelli et al., 2019). Australia would lead to the bias in the estimation of population level of indicators. In comparison to Australia and the United States, the annual level HbA1c testing and the lipid testing have been given to 70 to 80% of the patients of US and 50-60% in the Australia. In comparison, the patients in Australia in the normal practice are tended to have the optimal level of HbA1c control than the visiting of the particular clinics Meloncelli et al., 2019). The data of US has shown that the patients on the Medicaid have more tender than those on the Medicare or in commercial typeof insurance to have the low glycaemic control and an elevated level of LDL-cholesterol. The control of HbA1c among the people of the United States is poorer than the Australian people. The usage of RAND’s Quality Assessment Tools System offers the indicators associated to the treatment of diabetes in the US. However, it is identified that the US has low control of HbA1c within the patients in comparison to Australia.
Comparing Approach of Australia to Manage this Issue Globally
Diabetes is a large economic issue on the global health care industry. 12 cases of diabetes registered per 100,000 population in Australia. This burden would be measured through the direct costs of medical, indirect costs linked with the productivity loss (Phelan et al., 2017). It has a negative impact on the gross domestic product of Australia and other countries such as the United States. It is estimated to be a loss of $A2. Almost 1 billion in the GDP has been projected for the 2015 and raising to $A2. 6.9 per 1000 persons have diabetes in the United States (Meloncelli et al., 2019). It is estimated that US $89.9 billion has been lost due to the productivity losses for diabetes in the USA.
International Diabetes Federation is the organization that makes initiatives for over 240 national diabetes links in the 168 countries and the territories. This organization is the global diabetes community since the time of 1950. The IDF’s mission is to promote the care of diabetes, prevention and cure in the entire world (McIntyre et al., 2020). This international federation is accountable for tackling diabetes from the local level to the global level. It mainly influences policy and also increases public awareness about diabetes. The WHO Global Diabetes Compact has the vision of eliminating the risk of diabetes and making sure all people who are detected have access to comprehensive, affordable, equitable and quality care and treatment (McIntyre et al., 2020). It mainly works to support the patients of type 2 diabetes to prevent obesity, unhealthy diet and physical activity.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have four times more cases of diabetes than the non-indigenous people. The Diabetes Australia and the National Diabetes Services Scheme has produced a new health initiative named Back on track (diabetesaustralia.com.au, 2022). This campaign has targeted the ATSI people for stimulating them to make them back on track with self-care in diabetes (Life & Health, 2022). This initiative has enhanced on the back of the research that presents during the year 2020. Many ATSI people have disengaged from the routine plan of diabetes and plans of management of health care due to the maintain of social distance, fear of getting close to the COVID 19 and other focused areas.
- In this initiative or campaign there are some areas are included such as –
- Checking the blood sugar and medications in the diabetes health team (Speight et al., 2021)
- Checking that people are eating healthy type of foods and active regularly
Checking or looking after each other that people have taking time to look after themselves. Except for this initiative the Australian government has developed a 10 year plan for supporting the Australians living with different forms of diabetes.
In this initiative the nurse is in the center role to check the clinical manifestations of the patients. They are mainly accountable for regular check up of eyes, skin, blood pressure, kidneys, feet and teeth of the patients or service users. They also provide the testing facility to the service users (Speight et al., 2021). The sugar level is measured by the nurse in the check up of regular activity and they are the first observer who checks the people who are feeling sick. The nurse also advises the service users how much dosage of the insulin or medication can be given to the service users (who.int, 2022). They advise the patients and educate them about eating habits. The above all responsibilities need to be fulfilled by the nurses in the back on track campaign or initiative.
Political and Financial Impact on Management of Diabetes in Australia and Other Country
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the Australian healthcare system needs to be more proficient and effective to manage diabetes. The Australian government has many initiatives and programs or schemes that help to reduce or manage diabetes. Although there is a need to focus more on the funding system to make a strong base of the healthcare system. The involvement of the training and education can help the healthcare system to manage diabetes more effectively. Other countries have managed diabetes effectively although China, United States need to be managed more effectively. The Australian healthcare system needs to make partnerships with other partners or sponsors to make a strong prevention strategy.
References
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