Agents of Change: 4 Ways to Battle Social Determinants of Health

This transcript has been edited for clarity.

We all know that social determinants of health affect health outcomes in a major way. We've recently become more aware of these social determinants of health with rising inequities in COVID-19 across the globe, and especially in diabetes.

Some [negative] social determinants of health could include housing insecurity, food insecurity, lack of access to high-quality healthcare, and financial hardship and being unable to pay for medications that are life-saving. We know that [negative] social determinants of health increase the risk for prediabetes and diabetes, as well as the risk for poor diabetes control, complications, and, unfortunately, premature mortality.

So, social determinants of health are really enmeshed in our societies, in our healthcare systems, in every structure that we face in our lives. And it can feel overwhelming to understand as healthcare providers. How do we battle this? How do we help our patients navigate social determinants of health? I've had to really face these questions, and there are certain things I do that I'd like to share with you today that will help you think of yourselves as change agents.

As healthcare professionals, we really have to think of ourselves as people who can change the face of healthcare.