Overcoming Health Equity Challenges in Diabetes
Diabetes affects millions of people in the United States, but not everyone has the same resources to manage it well. Some communities face challenges that make it harder to receive the care, resources, and support they need. These challenges are called health equity issues, which can happen when people don’t have the same opportunities for good health because of factors like income, education or where they live.
Let’s explore the relationship between health equity and diabetes.
What Is Health Equity?
Health equity means everyone has a fair and just chance to be as healthy as possible. But for many people with diabetes, barriers like cost, access to doctors, or lack of healthy food choices stand in the way. When these barriers exist, they can impact entire families and communities, not just one individual.
Common Challenges People Face
- Cost of Care. Diabetes supplies like insulin, test strips, and continuous glucose monitors are expensive. Insurance usually covers at least a portion of these costs, however not everyone has insurance, nor can everyone handle out-of-pocket costs.
- Access to Healthy Foods. In some neighborhoods, it’s hard to find fresh fruits, vegetables, or whole grains that fuel a healthy lifestyle. This can make it difficult for people with diabetes to follow a balanced diet.
- Transportation and Clinics. Not everyone lives near a diabetes clinic or has reliable transportation to healthcare providers. Without regular checkups, it can be hard to keep blood sugar levels in a safe range.
- Education and Support. Understanding diabetes care such as carb counting, medication schedules, and blood sugar monitoring can be overwhelming. If people don’t have access to diabetes educators or support groups, they may feel overwhelmed.
- Language and Culture Barriers. If information about diabetes isn’t offered in a person’s first language or in a way that respects their culture, they can miss important details.
Why This Matters
Without the right resources, people with diabetes are at higher risk for serious health problems like heart disease, kidney disease, or vision loss. These health gaps add up over time and create stark differences in outcomes between groups of people.
What to do in Response to Specific Health Inequities
Individuals living with diabetes who are also facing one or multiple health inequities aren’t necessarily out of options.
With regards to cost of care, medications, devices and equipment often have payment plans available or even copay cards. For folks that struggle to access high quality foods including fruit, vegetables and whole grains, it’s worth considering online food delivery services. Food banks and mobile produce markets are an option as well. If transportation is a challenge, there are ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft as well as local transportation services provided by local, regional or state transit authorities.
To better understand diabetes from a clinical perspective, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists are a fantastic (and typically free) resource, often accessible through medication and device suppliers. There are also local support groups that meet either in person or virtually that can help. And when it comes to language barriers, free translation apps and websites can be a game changer.
Reach Out
If you’re living with diabetes and suffering from one or multiple health equity challenges, talk to your healthcare provider, care team, or even us, here at CCS.
Author: Samantha Poe, Pharm.D. | CCS Health
This site is for educational purposes only. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health.
