Disease staging
It is proposed that diabetes is described and categorised in ‘disease stages’, for example, Stage one (Metabolic X), Stage two (insulin resistant) and Stage three (failure to produce insulin). Seemingly insignificant details (like names) can have a major impact on people’s perception and behaviour. The use of disease staging is a nudge towards better comprehension of the progressive and seriousness nature of the disease to the novice. Likewise other well-recognised chronic fatal diseases such as cancer and hypertension are described in stages. Diabetes is not often associated with fatality. For the healthcare provider disease staging can be utilised to measure severity of illness and its impact on hospital costs. It would also be well suited for cost-effectiveness research, because discharge based systems do not require medical chart review or clinical judgement as part of the rating methodology. When catagorised in stages the individual is nudged to take corrective steps relevant to the specific stage, the catagorised information may also be sought more easily, the amount of accessible information on diabetes can be overwhelming to the individual. Health providers would also supply targeted health promotion material that encourages goal setting behaviour to prevent the disease progressing to the next stag
Diabetes places a huge burden on global healthcare resources due in large part to the many associated complications. Diabetes:
• Accounts for more than 50% of all lower limb amputations performed in the U.S each year and it is estimated that every 30 seconds someone in the world receives a lower limb amputation due to diabetes
• Leads to neuropathy in nearly 50% of sufferers after 25 years.
• Causes an increased risk of influenza, pneumonia and UTIs due to an altered immune system.
• Causes retinopathy and glaucoma and is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age (Pasquale, 2006)
• Increased risk of developing dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease or neurovascular problems.
• Increased risk of cardiovascular problems including artherosclerosis and CVA (Jeerakathil, 2007)
• Represents the number one cause for admission to dialysis and kidney transplant programmes
• Doubles the risk for depression (Carnethon, 2007)
Comments
Disease staging
It is proposed that diabetes is described and categorised in ‘disease stages’, for example, Stage one (Metabolic X), Stage two (insulin resistant) and Stage three (failure to produce insulin). Seemingly insignificant details (like names) can have a major impact on people’s perception and behaviour. The use of disease staging is a nudge towards better comprehension of the progressive and seriousness nature of the disease to the novice. Likewise other well-recognised chronic fatal diseases such as cancer and hypertension are described in stages. Diabetes is not often associated with fatality. For the healthcare provider disease staging can be utilised to measure severity of illness and its impact on hospital costs. It would also be well suited for cost-effectiveness research, because discharge based systems do not require medical chart review or clinical judgement as part of the rating methodology. When catagorised in stages the individual is nudged to take corrective steps relevant to the specific stage, the catagorised information may also be sought more easily, the amount of accessible information on diabetes can be overwhelming to the individual. Health providers would also supply targeted health promotion material that encourages goal setting behaviour to prevent the disease progressing to the next stag
Diabetes places a huge burden on global healthcare resources due in large part to the many associated complications. Diabetes:
• Accounts for more than 50% of all lower limb amputations performed in the U.S each year and it is estimated that every 30 seconds someone in the world receives a lower limb amputation due to diabetes
• Leads to neuropathy in nearly 50% of sufferers after 25 years.
• Causes an increased risk of influenza, pneumonia and UTIs due to an altered immune system.
• Causes retinopathy and glaucoma and is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age (Pasquale, 2006)
• Increased risk of developing dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease or neurovascular problems.
• Increased risk of cardiovascular problems including artherosclerosis and CVA (Jeerakathil, 2007)
• Represents the number one cause for admission to dialysis and kidney transplant programmes
• Doubles the risk for depression (Carnethon, 2007)