Type 2 Diabetes Essay

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Comparison of how socio-economic status and education systems influence prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Sweden compared to America. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease which is the leading cause of kidney failure, and a major contributor of heart disease and stroke in the America (Walker et al. 2014). Obesity, physical inactivity and poor diet are the most common factors attributed to the cause of diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes in America is 10.3% compared to 5.2% (Shaw, Sicree & Zimmet 2010). These numbers are significant as the prevalence in America is almost double to the prevalence in Sweden, therefore it is important to analyse the factors which cause this difference between the 2 countries. Since diabetes is a major health problem in …show more content…

This would mean that students and workers would be provided with healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables (Ross, Lean and Anderson 2002). Socio-economic status and education systems influence the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in both America and Sweden. These factors vary between the countries with Sweden having a stronger focus on population welfare resulting in lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Both America and Sweden had similar median incomes, however the unemployment and poverty rate was significantly larger in America. The greater proportion of people in America with a lower socio-economic status may attribute to the larger prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes. The education system in America has put limited funding in their physical education program leading to a decrease in enrolment numbers as well as providing inadequate standards of nutrition and health. Comparatively Sweden has made physical education a compulsory subject placing an active focus on developing healthier attitudes in students, this promotes healthy living post-graduation and lowers prevalence to type 2