Making an Impact

Autor/in	Davis, Sam
Titel	Making an Impact
Quelle	In: Adults Learning, 20 (2009) 5, S.30-31 (2 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0955-2308
Schlagwörter	Obesity; Diabetes; Health Education; Foreign Countries; Adults; Adult Learning; Adult Education; United Kingdom + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Adipositas; Gesundheitsaufklärung; Gesundheitsbildung; Gesundheitserziehung; Ausland; Adulte education; Adult training; Erwachsenenbildung; Adult; Adults; Education; Adult basic education; Großbritannien
Abstract	Two thirds of UK adults are considered overweight or obese. This trend is reflected in Wakefield, a small semi-rural city of just over 300,000. The rise in obesity is worrying for a number of reasons. It can lead to heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure and diabetes. Wakefield is currently witnessing an explosion of those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and, in 2007, more than 12,000 people were registered as having this long-term condition. This is only the tip of the iceberg; there are many others with the disease who have not yet been diagnosed. Diabetes mellitus is a difficult disease to understand and once an individual is diagnosed there is only disease "management," not cure. Effective management can be gained through a highly controlled diet coupled with exercise, or through administering drugs. In either case, the person with diabetes mellitus has to understand the importance of measuring the levels of sugar present in the blood and, by using one of the two methods of control described, maintain a healthy balance so as not to cause further health complications. Managing this long-term condition is extremely difficult. It requires a high-level appreciation of how diabetes acts on the hormones in the body. It is also crucial for people with diabetes to understand what the consequences could be if the condition is left unmanaged--consequences such as heart disease, blindness, or circulation problems which can lead to amputation of the foot. If these two aspects of diabetes are understood, then one can begin to talk about management, which, again, involves a high level of ability and skills--specifically around literacy, numeracy, nutrition and physical activity. Managing a health condition like diabetes requires a sound understanding of how to manage the disorder. In this article, the author describes how her Primary Care Trust has responded to the challenge by developing a strategic approach to health literacy. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. Renaissance House, 20 Princess Road West, Leicester, LE1 6TP, UK. Tel: +44-1162-044200; Fax: +44-1162-044262; e-mail: enquiries@niace.org.uk; Web site: http://www.niace.org.uk/Publications/Periodicals/Default.htm
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10