Social Determinants of Health in Diabetes Patient Care / 임상당뇨병

Diabetic patients must exert continuous self-management in areas such as diet, exercise, and medications to control blood sugar. However, such habits are greatly influenced by lifestyle; socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental conditions; as well as individual will. In vulnerable groups, the prevalence of diabetes is higher than in non-vulnerable groups, and difficulties in diabetes management are more common. Health is impacted by age; gender; genetics; lifestyle; social and community networks; living and working conditions; and socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental conditions. Among these various factors, five ‘social determinants of health’ highly affect the health management of diabetic patients: socioeconomic status, physical environment (housing environment, transportation), food insecurity, family and social support, and health literacy. It is important address these social determinants of health, starting with identification of individualized social needs of patients. Efforts should be made to improve quality of life through use of community resources and to further contribute to alleviating health inequality.

Diabetes Fact Sheets in Korea, 2020: An Appraisal of Current Status

Background@#This study aimed to investigate the recent prevalence, management, and comorbidities of diabetes among Korean adults aged ≥30 years by analyzing nationally representative data. @*Methods@#This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2018, and the percentage and total number of people ≥30 years of age with diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were estimated. @*Results@#In 2018, 13.8% of Korean adults aged ≥30 years had diabetes, and adults aged ≥65 years showed a prevalence rate of 28%. The prevalence of IFG was 26.9% in adults aged ≥30 years. From 2016 to 2018, 35% of the subjects with diabetes were not aware of their condition. Regarding comorbidities, 53.2% and 61.3% were obese and hypertensive, respectively, and 72% had hypercholesterolemia as defined by low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥100 mg/dL in people with diabetes. Of the subjects with diabetes, 43.7% had both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. With regard to glycemic control, only 28.3% reached the target level of <6.5%. Moreover, only 11.5% of subjects with diabetes met all three targets of glycosylated hemoglobin, blood pressure, and LDL-C. The percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates was higher in diabetes patients than in those without diabetes, while that from protein and fat was lower in subjects with diabetes. @*Conclusion@#The high prevalence and low control rate of diabetes and its comorbidities in Korean adults were confirmed. More stringent efforts are needed to improve the comprehensive management of diabetes to reduce diabetes-related morbidity and mortality.

Care Tips for Self-Care among Older Diabetic Patients / 임상당뇨병

With the increase in the elderly population, the number of elderly diabetics is also increasing rapidly. To educate older people with diabetes, we need to understand their characteristics and those of their main caregiver, establish careful and individualized treatment goals, and provide concrete and practical education. Diabetes educators should provide comprehensive geriatric assessment, personalized diabetes education through psychosocial assessment, practical guidance, family education, self-management skills for elderly diabetic patients and caregivers. Diabetes educators should keep in mind to consider elderly diabetic patients can support family or social resources to continue self-management.

A Review of Qualitative Research in Korea: The Life Experiences of Diabetes Patients / 임상당뇨병

Qualitative research methodology has become more recognized and valued in diabetes behavioral research in recent years. Qualitative research is very rare in Korea, especially for diabetes; on the other hand, qualitative research is increasing abroad. This paper reviews qualitative research on the life experiences of diabetes patients in Korea. Drawing on advanced research, it is helpful to know the essence of such experiences and the exact phenomena diabetes patients face as revealed in their own voices. Also, understanding of and interest in the subjective experiences of diabetes patients will inform the development of new intervention methods.

Understanding Psycho-Social Aspects and Social Welfare Information of Low-Income Diabetes Patients / 임상당뇨병

Low-income diabetes patients suffer from not only the depression of poverty, but also the psychological burden of diabetes. Such patients rarely receive family or social support regarding diabetes selfmanagement. In addition, the cost of diabetes management is gradually increasing based on the associated complications. For such reasons, low-income diabetes patients have a higher death rate compared to general patients. To improve the survival of such patients, it is important to understand their physical, psycho-social, and economic states and to provide individualized social welfare information related to self-management. The most important factors in increased survival are an environment that allows active self-management and provision of community resources that help foster independent life.

Social Welfare Approaches for Patients with Diabetes and Stroke / 임상당뇨병

Patients with diabetes who experience a stroke can face sudden physical and mental changes after the stroke occurs. Also, these changes not only aggravate from the family feeling of responsibility for care burden to patient, but also affect the patient's blood sugar control. The social welfare approach to this disease-related issue, psychosocial issue, economic issue and rehabilitation issue is for the diabetic patient with stroke to improve their self management ability, and to ultimately lead to integrated health management and a healthy life.