The Correlation of Socioeconomic Status to Incidence Rates of a Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis in the Adult Population

The objective of this paper was to review the literature that reflects studies conducted on lower socioeconomic patients at risk for diabetes. These studies targeted the prevalence, medication adherence, chronic complications, and socioeconomic levels and the risk of incidence. The concluding evidence supports the research studies regarding diabetes and socioeconomic levels in that an adults’ socioeconomic level has a direct negative relationship between level of finance and the overall life time risk of a new diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and its complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy and poor clinical outcomes. Furthermore, economic status also has a direct negative correlation with increased risk of non-adherence to medications and care. The paper was supported by the Health Beliefs Model by psychologists Hochbaum, Rosenstock and Kegels (1950) that describes how the model focuses on two foundational ideas: 1) the desire to avoid illness, or conversely get well if already ill; and, 2) the belief that a specific health action will prevent, or cure, illness. The paper concludes with results on a survey of 30 nurses from the bay area and their perception on low socioeconomic levels and diabetes