Applying the Social Ecological Theory to Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Management.

Obesity and Type 2 diabetes have become major public health problems in the United States. Community health nurses, with expertise in preventive health care, have the potential to play a vital role in addressing these significant health issues. The purposes of this article are to identify current challenges related to obesity and Type 2 diabetes and to present the social ecological theory as a framework for the expansion of the reach of diabetes prevention and management that is relevant to community health nurses.