The patient was newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. What social determinants of health (SDOH) should the nurse assess for that could impact the patient’s ability for diabetes self-management?
2. What are some environmental and/or individual factors that could impact the patient’s ability for diabetes self-management?
Understanding the social determinants of health (SDOH) and environmental/individual factors is crucial for nurses to provide comprehensive care for a patient newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, especially as these elements can profoundly impact their ability to effectively self-manage their condition.
Social determinants of health are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. For a newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patient, a nurse should specifically assess for:
Economic Stability:
Income Level: Can the patient afford healthy food choices (fresh produce, lean proteins) which are often more expensive than processed foods? Does low income lead to reliance on cheaper, high-carbohydrate, high-fat foods?
Employment Status: Is the patient employed? Is their job stable? Does their work schedule allow for consistent meal times, medication administration, or exercise? Does their job offer health insurance benefits?
Food Insecurity: Does the patient have reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food? Are they living in a "food desert" where healthy options are scarce?
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