Page 157 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

124 n DiABETES RESEARCh

2009), continues to evolve and develop. in this entry is to review major historical, soci-
addition, methods for research integration etal, economical and contemporary practice
D and mixed methods synthesis are develop- issues, theoretical and research perspectives,
ing to combine both qualitatively and quan- and future directions.
titatively derived findings (Thorne, 2009). The care and treatment of individuals
Despite the complex nature of this synthesis, with diabetes was revolutionized with the
work on these approaches continues because discovery of insulin in 1921 by Drs. Frederick
nurses are motivated to extend nursing Banting and Charles Best at the University of
knowledge. Toronto. one year later, insulin for human use
Public and private funding of nursing was administered to save the life of a 14-year-
research has allowed for an expansion of old boy who was dying from the disease
nursing knowledge based in research. of (Banting, Best, Collip, Campbell, & Fletcher,
the many studies funded by the national 1922). The health care community, persons
institute of nursing Research, Sigma Theta living with diabetes, and their families owe
Tau, and private foundations, descriptive much to Banting et al. (1922) for their ground-
research continues to command a large por- breaking discovery. Since then, tremendous
tion of research dollars. strides in scientific discovery for diabetes
Many nursing organizations and asso- treatment have occurred to allow optimal
ciations have delineated priorities for a glycemic control. Despite these advances, our
nursing research agenda that include health society is faced with a significant economic
promotion, disease prevention, and wellness, burden because of the increasing numbers of
eliminating health disparities, improving individuals diagnosed with diabetes annu-
quality of life, and improving end-of-life care ally. According to the most current available
and research on minority groups and cul- data from the National Diabetes Statistics 2007
turally different views of health and illness. fact sheet (national institute of Diabetes and
Adding to nursing’s knowledge base in these Digestive and Kidney Diseases [niDDK],
areas will require using descriptive research 2008), diabetes was the seventh leading cause
along with other research methodologies and of death as reported on U.S. death certificates
incorporating the results of these studies into in 2006. The major contributor to mortality
nursing practice and research endeavors. risk was cardiovascular disease, which has
rates two to four times greater for adults
Anita J. Tarzian with diabetes than those without the disease.
Marlene Zichi Cohen Estimated U.S. diabetes prevalence rates total
23.6 million people, with 17.9 million diag-
nosed and 5.7 million who remain undiag-
nosed (niDDK, 2008).
Diabetes researCh The major types of diabetes are type 1
and type 2 diabetes. in adults, approximately
90% have type 2 diabetes, with the remain-
Diabetes is a chronic, debilitating disease der diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The
affecting individuals of all ages and diverse etiology of type 2 diabetes includes insulin
ethnic populations. nurses deliver evidence- resistance and insufficient insulin secretion.
based care for persons living with diabe- Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune
tes in primary care settings, hospitals, and pancreatic beta-cell destruction that requires
long-term care facilities. Key research efforts exogenous insulin administration. Although
are imperative to ensuring optimal health the majority of persons with type 1 diabe-
outcomes for those afflicted by this poten- tes develop the disease during childhood,
tially, devastating disease. The purpose of increasing numbers of youth have been