Collective actions to ensuring equitable care for people with type 2 diabetes
Gurdeep S. Sareen, PharmD, is a Director of Pharmacy and Population Health at CareMount Medical in New York.
Treating and managing type 2 diabetes can depend on access to care. Access to care means being able to get effective, affordable healthcare when it's needed. A person's background, where they live, and their income are all factors that can affect how diabetes is managed.
This article covers access to care issues for people living with type 2 diabetes, including health insurance, healthcare affordability, and government and non-profit resources for getting care.
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Access to care issues are barriers that prevent a person from getting healthcare in a timely fashion. There are four requirements for complete access to care:
Care access can be affected by various factors, including:
About 40% of Americans develop diabetes at some point in their lives. Complications of the condition disproportionately burden the overall healthcare system.
Creating equal access to type 2 diabetes healthcare and prevention can include the following steps:
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how diabetes can increase the likelihood of complications from other illnesses. COVID also helped highlight how diabetes could affect the overall U.S. healthcare system. For example:
Health insurance and coverage can greatly affect type 2 diabetes diagnosis and treatment. For example:
According to The National Clinical Care Commission (an organization that researches chronic diseases that burden the U.S. healthcare system), insurance policies should cover the following to help people prevent and treat type 2 diabetes:
There are ways to supplement your diabetes care, whether or not you have insurance, such as getting help from local, national, and international organizations. These organizations can be a path toward becoming an advocate for yourself and your community.
Local resources for getting help with type 2 diabetes management might include:
If local groups are unavailable, online groups like Beyond Type 2, Smart Patients, and Diabetes Daily can help you connect to other people living with diabetes.
National programs can also help with healthcare costs and connecting with others who have the disease. These include:
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Lion’s Club International are worldwide organizations that provide educational resources, advocacy guidance (e.g., participating in or organizing a World Diabetes Day event), support groups, screening events, and funding for community initiatives.
Managing type 2 diabetes is an ongoing process that usually includes a team of people, including your healthcare providers, loved ones, and support groups. Management methods include:
Access to care, or being able to get healthcare when needed, can affect type 2 diabetes treatment and management. Barriers to accessing care include a person's background, income, and education. For example, communities of color and people with lower incomes are less likely to have health insurance. Prevention steps—which can include everything from yearly checkups to living near green spaces safe for walking—also affect health outcomes.
There are government and community organizations that can supplement or provide type 2 diabetes care. Federally-funded healthcare clinics and organizations like the Lion's Club, YMCA, and the American Diabetes Association, as well as local community centers, can provide resources like care, education, and support groups.
Treating and managing type 2 diabetes can seem overwhelming, but there are resources you can turn to for health. Going to federally-funded low or no-cost clinics, joining a diabetes support group or management program in your community, and asking your pharmacist about prescription discount cards are just some ways you can get type 2 diabetes care for yourself and others. If access to care barriers exist for your community, joining local diabetes organizations can be a great way to advocate for changes like lower prescription drug costs and exercise facilities in your area.
Local support groups for type 2 diabetes can be found through organizations like the CDC, YMCA, American Diabetes Association, Lion's Club International, and community centers and churches. Online support can also be found at forums like Beyond Type 2, Smart Patients, and Diabetes Daily. If you would like to start your own group, grants and guidance are available through non-profit and government organizations like the CDC and Lion's Club international.
Primary care providers, nurse practitioners and nurses, endocrinologists, ophthalmologists and optometrists, podiatrists, and dentists can help with diagnosing and managing type 2 diabetes care. Pharmacists can help with navigating prescriptions and medical equipment for type 2 diabetes management. Nutritionists and fitness specialists can help with creating a healthy lifestyle. Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) are healthcare professionals who can help people navigate daily life with type 2 diabetes, which can include addressing lifestyle, environmental, and relationship concerns.
World Diabetes Day, which was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is on November 14. That date is the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, the person who co-discovered insulin with Charles Best in 1922.
The goal of World Diabetes Day is to acknowledge that diabetes is a global health issue that must be addressed by policies that address issues like access to care. About 1 in 10 people worldwide are living with diabetes, and almost half of those are undiagnosed, according to the IDF.
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Neha is a New York-based health journalist who has written for WebMD, ADDitude, HuffPost Life, and dailyRx News. Neha enjoys writing about mental health, elder care, innovative health care technologies, paying for health care, and simple measures that we all can take to work toward better health.
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