Definitions

SDOH, health disparities, and health equity are closely related. Incongruities in disease burden based on environmental factors must be identified and targeted to deliver and receive diabetes treatments equitably. Once care is equitably distributed, disease outcomes improve. The World Health Organization has clearly defined the terminology used to focus on the social influences of health.5

Historical perspectives

To understand how risk factors negatively affect health outcomes, one needs to be aware of the historical context in which these disparities arose. Decades of research demonstrate the legacy of slavery, and colonialism imparts its most negative effect on the Black race, although continued discrimination, prejudice, and bias plague all minoritized persons.6, 7, 8, 9 As participants in the cultural constructs of the United States, one must understand how slavery, social injustice, and racism play

Impact of social determinants of health: Cost burden

Not only does diabetes disproportionately burden patients in low-poverty quintiles, leading to insulin rationing and delays in seeking medical care, diabetes is one of the costliest diagnoses, and in fact, diabetes is the most expensive chronic condition in the United States. A quarter of the nation’s wealth is spent on caring for people with diabetes: $237 billion in direct medical costs and another $90 billion on reduced productivity.37 It becomes a national imperative to address the SDOH not

Social determinants of health screening: Implementation

As noted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, “the Model for Improvement, developed by Associates in Process Improvement, is a simple, yet powerful tool for accelerating improvement.” The Chronic Care Model identifies the essential elements of a health care system

Summary

Screening for SDOH in health care settings is crucial for several reasons, including identification of underlying health risks, instituting preventive care and early intervention, tailoring treatment plans to improve outcomes, and most importantly reducing health disparities. Institutions who care for persons living with T1D cannot improve the lives of their patients without first identifying those health risks, which most impact health outcomes and behaviors. Not addressing the social.


Sources - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889852923000774