Sociology

Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the most fatal and most expensive medical condition.  In medical terms, diabetes is the condition wherein the patient experience abnormality in the blood stream due to increased level of sugar or glucose.  Type 1Diabetes does not require the patient to take insulin, however, with Type 2, the absence or non-maintenance of insulin in the body of the patient may cause fatal consequences since diabetes is also a risk factor to develop diseases in the eyes, kidneys, and nerves.  Among the contributory factors for developing diabetes are heredity (the disease runs in the family blood), overweight, overage, and inactive lifestyle.  In related studies, individuals who have an African, Latino, or Asian origin are more likely to develop diabetes as compares to other races.  Thus, diabetes is not only viewed as a health-originated concern, but it is also regarded as a racial disease.

Diabetes is becoming a worldwide concern.  According to American Diabetes Association (National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2007), there are 23.6 million people in the United States who are suffering from diabetes.  This constitutes a total of 7.8 percent of the total population.  The organization also reported findings of diabetes in racial context.  Based on their 2004-20006 survey, whose respondent were 20 years old and older, it was discovered that 6.6 percent of the total population having diabetes are non-Hispanic whites, 7.5 percent are Asian American, 11.8 percent are non-Hispanic blacks, and 10.4 percent are Hispanics.  In 2006, 72, 507 deaths were recorded to be caused by diabetes.  These incidents are only partial of the damage that diabetes render to the public.  The condition can also contribute to the development or complications of other fatal diseases such as heart diseases and stroke, high blood pressure (hypertension), blindness, kidney failures, amputation, and neuropathy. 

In 2007, the costs of treating diabetes rose to 174 billion this is according to National Diabetes Fact Sheet (2007).  Overall, diabetes is not just about a health concern, but more importantly, it affects the economic and emotional stability of the patient and their family.  There is a high prevalence that diabetes may be a lifetime disease if not given proper and immediate attention.  Organ transplants are very limited due to insufficient donations.  Thus, prevention programs would really create an impact on the battle against this disease.

Considering the fact that diabetes is also a racial disease, there are significant findings that related the Aboriginals in the fatality of this health condition.  Historical records showed that Aboriginal people were found to be healthy and did not suffer from any medical ailment until 1923.  Basedow (1932) reported that the first incident of diabetes among the Aboriginals was in Adelaide.  Since those findings, Type 2 diabetes or the one that requires insulin maintenance has been recognized as the most prevalent type of diabetes to occur among the Aboriginals.  In the 2004-2005 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSHIS), there were reports of increased blood sugar among the natives.  Although there was a rise in the percentage, it is not a significant high level of epidemic.

From the table above, cases of Type 2 diabetes are most prevalent in Aboriginal people coming from ages 45 to 54, which is the adulthood period.  The Department of Health and Ageing reported that among the factors contributing to the development of diabetes in the indigenous population are high levels of obesity and genetic factors.  According to the 2004-2005 NATSHIS study, 75 percent of the Aboriginals have low tolerance or tolerance, thus, further encourages tendencies for obesity.  Other reasons stated that a significant percentage of the Aboriginal people were found to be overweight.
Purpose and Objectives of the Program

Description of the Evaluation
Step 1 (a)  Identifying the purpose of the evaluation
Purpose Statement
CAT WorksheetComponentsActivitiesTarget Groups
SOLO WorksheetWhat is the direction of changeWhat is the program intending to changeIs it short term or long termWhich component contributes to this outcome
Stakeholder ChecklistInternalExternal

Evaluation Questions ChecklistWho Needs to Know
Hhigh priority  Llow priorityActivitiesOrganizer of the ProgramOther StakeholdersInternal (Staff and Volunteers)External (Donors, financial funders)Were activities implemented as plannedHow did the activities vary from one site to anotherWere required sources in place and sufficientDid the staff think they were all prepared to implement the activitiesDid the staff think they were able to implement the activities as planned  If not, what a factors limited their implementationDid staff and community partners think the partnership was positiveDid community partners think the activities were implemented as plannedWhat activities worked well  What activities did not worked so wellWhat was the cost of delivering the activitiesTarget GroupsHow many people were reachedDid the program reached the intended target groupTo what extent did activities reach people outside the target groupWhat proportions of people in need were reachedWere potential participants (non-participants) aware of the programWere participants satisfied with the programDoes the program have a good reputationHow did participants find out about the programHow many people participated in the programOutcomesHave the short-term outcomes been achieved (List the short-term outcomes of the program from the logic model.)Have the long-term outcomes been achieved (List the long-term outcomes of the program from the logic model.)