SELF CARE PRACTICES

The Importance Of Effective Self Care Practices Among African-American Female Patients With Diabetes Mellitus 2

Table of the Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION3

Background of the study3

Statement of the Problem4

Research Questions5

Research Hypothesis5

Null Hypothesis5

Alternative Hypothesis6

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW7

Diabetes Mellitus7

African Americans and Diabetes8

Race-based Discrepancies in Preventive Care Practices9

Prevention, detection and treatment of chronic complications11

General Diet11

Specific Diet12

Physical Activity13

Sugar substitutes for diabetics13

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY15

Research Design15

Secondary Data16

Research Philosophy17

Literature Search18

Validity18

Limitation of the Study19

Ethical Consideration20

Statistical Analysis Plan21

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION22

Demographic Characteristics22

Self Care Activities23

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION26

REFERENCES27

The Importance Of Effective Self Care Practices Among African-American Female Patients With Diabetes Mellitus 2

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) is a chronic disease characterized by high blood glucose levels, also known as hyperglycemia, which occurs as a result of a defect in either insulin action (i.e. insulin resistance), and/or insulin secretion (American Diabetes Association [ADA], 2011). The disease affects millions of Americans each year. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2010) estimated that 18 million adults, 18 years of age or older, were currently living with (diagnosed) diabetes in the United States (U.S.). Alarmingly, these estimates have more than tripled from the estimated 5.5 million in 1980 (CDC, 2010). Likewise, the incidence of those newly diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise each year. Among adults aged 18 to 79, the incidence more than tripled between 1980 and 2009, from 493,000 to 1.8 million new cases per year (CDC, 2011). These numbers, which surpassed estimates made by researchers (Honeycutt et al., 2003), suggest that diabetes will become an increasingly serious public health challenge in the U.S.

Without adequate treatment and preventive care practices, diabetes-related complications will become more prevalent. Diabetes has been associated with long term complications in multiple organ systems, including the eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels (ADA, 2011); it was ranked the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2006 (72,449 attributed deaths; Heron et al., 2009). There has been an increasing number of people with diabetes aged 35 years and older who reported having a cardiovascular condition (coronary heart disease, stroke or other heart disease): from 4.2 million in 1997 to 5.9 million in 2007 (40% increase; CDC, 2009). The cost of diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be $174 billion dollars, of which $58 billion was used to treat diabetes-related complications (ADA, 2008). Although the prevalence of this disease and its associated complications are increasing in all segments of the U.S. population, minorities have higher rates of diabetes than Caucasians.

Statement of the Problem

Although African Americans are considered a part of a “high-risk ethnic population” for diabetes (ADA, 2011; Rodbard et al., 2007), studies rarely include this minority as a target population nor identified the factors related to their management of the disease. Research has shown that following an intensive management regimen can delay the development and progression of diabetes-related complications. Recommendations from the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2011 (ADA, 2011) indicate that assessment of glycemic control through SMBG and HbA1c are associated with effective multifactorial intervention and are ...