Phase 3: Analyzing the aggregate strengths and weaknesses
Using the MAP-IT framework which stands for Mobilize, Assess, Plan, Implement and Track to plan and evaluate the extent of diabetes which is a key public health issue of concern within the aggregate has the potential to contribute to a healthy group (Harris & LeDoux, 2012). The aggregate was made up of African Americans within Ft. Pierce, Florida. To better understand the factors that may have contributed to the rise of diabetic conditions among the African American population data consisting of a group 50 African Americans mobilized with the help of local clinics was analyzed by their diabetes status and knowledge. It was done concerning the same lifestyle conditions.
Diabetes can be inherited within a family lineage, but it is predominantly a lifestyle disease (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, 2014). The weaknesses revealed from the aggregate included poor diet, low levels of physical exercises occurrence of elevated cases of obesity and also a notable lack of knowledge on prevention of diabetes. On the contrary, the aggregate also had elements of strength that could help them stay clear of the rising statistics of diabetes. A majority of them had formal jobs and were able to make enough money to afford knowledge acquisition and at the same time afford health living. Healthy living may involve healthy foods and increased levels of physical activities,
Phase 4: Risk Assessment
The aggregate described in Phase three consisted of 50 African Americans analyzed side by side with a test group of 50 Caucasians. The driver of the research was to find out the reason for the prevalent rising cases of diabetes within the African Americans population in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Much of what exposed the aggregate to the increased risks of suffering from diabetes was to a greater extent preventable. Apart from diabetes that is passed from parents to their children also referred to as type1, all the other cases of those suffering from diabetes also known as type 2 could have been prevented if only healthy life choices were made.
On normal occasion, the boy was used to consuming three bottles of soda. Soda is quite sugary, and all its calories are in liquid form making it quite easy to absorb that leads to a rapid rise in the level of blood glucose (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, 2014). The body is not used to high blood glucose levels especially if it happens repeatedly and, as a result, can be clogged in the liver in the form of fats leading to type 2 diabetes (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, 2014).
Unfortunately, the availability of information amongst the family members on how to put the situation under control was not sufficient. Continued uninformed lifestyle graced with ignorance gradually worsened the situation. It was normal for the family members that the boy was big because this is acceptable amongst the African Americans population. Similarly, the boy was addicted to video games which made him quite static, with extremely reduced levels of physical activities. All these lifestyle choices contributed to the dysfunction of his normal blood glucose system.
Results of the assessment
The major factor that led the boy in the family to develop diabetes was the effect of poor health choices. Poor health choices in his situation resulted from two angles. One was his feeding habits and the second was his low levels of physical activity. He needed to eat right and at the same time ensure that his body actively utilized the food he ate by being active himself. The other factors that added weight to these key divers were ignorance from his family members and their uninformed continued support of his unhealthy lifestyle. His situation came about not because of the possible effects of genetics but as a result of a personal choice that got a backing from ignorantly directed love from the other family members.
Conclusion
It would be necessary to take the whole family through training that would shed light on them on the management of diabetes. It would help quite a lot because the condition had already befallen one of their own under their roof. The impact of this will be informed food choices not just for their ailing son but also for themselves in preventing future development of diabetes in the family. They will also need to engage him in active and increased levels of physical activities and closely watch his other health needs.
References
Harris, E. L., & LeDoux, C. J. (2012). Community Health Needs Assessment Reference Toolkit Arkansas Assessment Initiative Hometown Health Improvement. Arkansaas Department of Health, Center for Local Public Health & Center for Public Health Practice. Arkansaas Department of Health.
UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. (2014). 1 in 3 Diabetes Tied to a Third of California Hospital Stays, Driving Health Care Costs Higher. University of California, Center for Health Policy Research. Los Angeles: Brown Miller Communications.
