Diabetes is a rather complicated and threatening condition that a considerable number of people suffer. Among all diabetic patients in the USA, 95% have diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes (T2D) (Dowd, 2016). It is lifelong metabolic disorder, which leads to the lack of insulin and is followed by such side effects as imputation, blindness, heart disease, and short lifetime. In July report, the American Diabetes Association stated that T2D took the 7th place in the list of conditions causing death in the USA (ADA, 2017). Among multiple causation of illness’ rapid growth are such factors as genetic predisposition of Native Americans and other ethnic groups, age over 65, family history, obesity, testosterone deficiency, inadequate sleep, unhealthy nutrition and physical inactivity (Hill, Nielsen, & Fox, 2013).

When biological factors are hard to prevent, the behavioral ones, which lead to obesity, poor nutrition, harmful habits and inactive lifestyle, are possible and should be managed, as the disease threatens not only medical branch of the country but economic as well. To prove this statement, it is reasonable to research the development and reasons behind T2D in the USA and developing countries, analyze and compare the statistics of its expansion and costs around the country and in Alabama State. Through analysis of all possible prevention measures of T2D, it will be possible to propose social, behavioral, and psychosocial methods to prevent the disease in Alabama State and at the particular workplace to demonstrate practical side of the solution to the problem.

The Comparison of the Development of T2D in the USA and Developing Countries

The USA and developing Asian countries suffer from T2D the most in the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) warns that if current trends continue, the number of patients with diabetes will double or even triple by 2050 in the USA. In 2010, there were 25 million patients, when nowadays the disease approaches epidemic level; every 23 seconds, a person is diagnosed with T2D in the country (Dowd, 2016). African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, and Hispanics have higher risks and genetic predisposition to the disease (CDC, 2010). The majority of Americans suffer from T2D due to their inactive lifestyle and huge obesity level. Therefore, in many cases, the illness can be prevented and the implementation of state educative and informative programs relating to the threat of T2D, which often is not accompanied by symptoms at first stages, can help to control and manage the situation.

In addition to America, developing countries suffer from T2D as well. The reasons behind the disease increase due to the process of urbanization, which leads to inadequate nutrition, stress, and sedentary lifestyle. In comparison with the USA, developing countries can hardly treat and diagnose the disease in full because they lack proper funding to cover expenses relating to medical services and educatory-informative programs. The epicenter of T2D among developing countries is in Asia, and it comprises 60% of the world’s diabetic population (Hu, 2011). China and India are also characterized by high rates of the disease (WHO, 2016). Interestingly, the tendencies toward the disease development are rather different there. Asian population often develops T2D at younger age, while such cases are rather random in the USA. Moreover, very often, normal-weight and even thin people of the Middle East possess the illness, what is atypical for Americans as well (Hu, 2011). There are considerable problems while trying to fight T2D expansion in the developing countries due to ill-equipped medicine infrastructure and other factors in regard to the disease, which should be additionally considered. Thus, it is easier to manage and prevent the condition in the USA. The reason is that the US has efficient health care system and infrastructure, which still develop and improve, whereas developing countries feel the lack of reliable data about the illness treatment and prevention owing to the poor system of medical care and research.

Comparison of Statistics of T2D in the USA and Alabama State

The USA together with China and India has a rather high prevalence of T2D. The first cases of the disease among young people occurred in 1970 in Indiana; consequently, the problem was considered as the issue of Native Americans at first, but sooner children of white population became the victims of T2D as well (WHO, 2016). In 2015, 30.3 million Americans, which is 9,4% of the population in general, had diabetes. Moreover, one third of them did not guess about their health problem until testing (ADA, 2017). The highest world rate of the illness has Southern Arizona since every third inhabitant of the state has T2D (Santos-Longhurst, 2017).

A common project of the Trust for American’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation indicated that in 2016, diabetes rate in Alabama totaled 14,6% (The State of Obesity, 2017). The main reason behind this fact is the high level of the population’s obesity. Alabamians hold the third place in the USA, with 35,7% of adults and 18,6% of children aged 10-17 suffering from obesity. For this reason, the second name of Alabama is “The State of Obesity” (The State of Obesity, 2017). Moreover, the state demonstrates only 20% of vigorous activity and 30% of moderate physical activity among its inhabitants that is rather low (Alabama Department of Public Health, 2009). However, it is evident that the problem of diabetes in Alabama can be reduced with the improvement of life quality, access to health care and education on the reasons and ways of prevention of the insidious disease.

To compare statistics of the T2D in the USA and Alabama state, it should be mentioned that in Alabama, its percentage is higher, namely 21% among adults, when general country rate is 9,4%. Consequently, HealthGrove reported that it is the highest rate among all states of the USA (Dowd, 2016). Alabama holds a dominant position in the list of top 10 states of the country suffering from the disease. The main reasons for such a sad rating are behavioral ones, thereby making it easier for the state to improve and prevent them, as opposed to the biological ones that are prevalent in other American states.

The Cost of Treating T2D in Alabama and 5 Steps to Reduce Them

T2D is not only a health care problem but also a serious challenge for economy of the USA. In 2010, expenses relating to the issue numbered 12% (8 376 billion dollars) of all health care budget. Researches state that people with diabetes have medical costs twice higher than people without the illness (CDC, 2010). In Alabama, the annual cost of diabetes is over 2 billion dollars (Alabama Department of Public Health, 2009). However, the state medical coverage should be increased, as in 2008, 12,4% of people with diabetes reported that they were not covered by any health plan, while 16,5% mentioned that they could not even afford a visit to the doctor (Alabama Department of Public Health, 2009).

Among 5 steps to address the behavioral, sociological and psychosocial proliferation of the disease are:

1. Organization of the public policy of breastfeeding of children, healthy diet, active lifestyle, and testing of the residents for the disease since prediction of the T2D can reduce the chances of illness by 30-60% (WHO, 2016).
2. Education of Alabamians on the threat of diabetes, its side effects and the main reasons behind the development of the disease through the local media, radio and TV.
3. Distribution of posters with the information about the necessity of annual tests on blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol level and diabetes predisposition, as statistics show that a third of people who live with T2D do not even know this (Dowd, 2016).
4. Implementation of the public informational program in relation to the harmful influence of obesity, smoking, drinking alcohol, lack of sleep, and stress that can precipitate the development of T2D. It is also crucial to emphasize the usefulness of healthy nutrition, pure water drinking, considerable daily consumption of fruit and vegetables and active lifestyle through the media and postcards.
5. Implementation of testing in regard to the knowledge of health care providers about the threat, tendencies and prevention of T2D in the USA and Alabama in particular. Although a common inhabitant still can neglect the information about the illness, it is a direct duty of health professionals to turn their attention to a problem and ask to pass diabetes test.

Alabama State has a critical situation with diabetes in the USA; however, the reasons behind it are more behavioral than biological, which makes the prevention of the disease possible with the implementation of proper psychosocial and medical steps.

6 Steps to Address T2D in the Current Workplace

As a worker of the Laboratory Corporation of America, I realize that the most harmful in my job environment is the influence of sedentary lifestyle, improper nutrition of the urban city, lack of sleep, and considerable stress. Thus, 6 steps to inform my co-workers about T2D threat and prevention are:

1. The spread of postcards about T2D insidiousness and prevention. The cards should contain phone numbers and addresses of medical centers, where a patient can undergo the needed tests.
2. The spread of postcards about the importance of full 7-8-hour night sleep in order to handle T2D and stress.
3. Dissemination of notes about the statistics on T2D risk, with the emphasis being placed on smokers in the smoking places. To be more persuasive, the note should contain the list of side effects of T2D.
4. Dissemination of notes about the harm of sugar-sweetened drinks and the preference of clear water in the prevention of T2D near the drinks machines.
5. Organization of several 10-minute physical exercises for the whole staff in established time to minimize the harmful impact of the sedentary lifestyle and encourage them to work more at home or in the gym.
6. The delivery of healthy snacks and fresh fruit during the lunchtime instead of fast food. Many people would like to eat healthier food but are short of time to buy it beforehand.

As people by nature are very lazy creatures, I believe that the 6th step to address T2D should be the most effective. The reason is that not everyone will read or pay attention to postcards and notes, but many would buy healthier food if it is available and affordable.

Conclusion

The statistics demonstrate that the reason for T2D in the USA lies mostly in population obesity and inactive lifestyle, what cannot be said about developing countries, where even young and thin people suffer from the illness. The chances to reduce rapid growth of T2D in the USA and cut the costs of its treatment are high if proper medical and psychosocial methods are implemented in each state and workplace. The development of the population’s awareness about the reasons and consequences of T2D and propaganda of healthy and active lifestyle can help to solve the problem.

This text was written by Charles Pfeifer who is a writing editor at https://essaysprofessors.com