The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on the Prevalence and Management of Diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes cases are rising globally, with estimates projecting the numbers to reach 643 million by 2030. The rising cases are a result of different factors such as aging, inadequate physical activity, poor eating behaviors, and the rising overweight and obesity numbers. Social determinants of health, particularly socioeconomic status (SES), have been shown to be a contributing factor to diabetes prevalence. The different components of SES, namely, income, education, and occupation, contribute to the rising obesity prevalence, affecting disease onset and progression. These factors also affect how people manage the disease and the subsequent outcomes. Effective diabetes management is important because it reduces complications and improves overall health outcomes. However, factors such as low income, lower educational attainment, and uncertain employment status make it difficult to afford the necessary diabetes care. These factors also affect healthcare utilization, which explains why people with low SES tend to have poor diabetes outcomes. It is important to understand how these factors work to improve diabetes management and outcomes. Therefore, this review explores how SES impacts diabetes prevalence and management.