November is American Diabetes Month

According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 25.8 million children and adults in the United States, which equates to 8.3% of the population, have diabetes.  This is up from 23.6 million (or 7.8%) in 2010.    Last year there were 1.9 million new cases of diabetes diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older.  These numbers don't include the 79 million people classified as "prediabetes".  In 2007, the total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. was $174 billion.  Of that number, $116 billion was for direct medial costs and the remaining $58 billion accounted for indirect costs (disability, work loss, premature mortality).  After adjusting for population age and sex differences, average medical expenditures among people with diagnosed diabetes were 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes.  Those are staggering statistics and they just keep getting worse on a yearly basis. 

What exactly is diabetes?  Diabetes mellitus (MEL-ih-tus), or more commonly known as diabetes, is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels that result from defects in the body's ability to produce and/or use insulin.  There are 3 types of diabetes:  (1) Type 1, (2) Type 2, and (3) Gestational.  Type 1 diabetes was previously known as "juvenile diabetes" because it is frequently diagnosed in children and young adults.  This form of diabetes requires external sources of insulin (i.e., injections, insulin pump) because the body does not produce insulin.  Surprisingly, only 5% of people diagnosed with diabetes have type 1.  Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes.  This was previously termed "adult-onset diabetes" because it was commonly diagnosed later in life.  In type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or the body doesn't recognize the presence of insulin in the bloodstream.  People diagnosed with type 2 diabetes typically are overweight and/or obese, have high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  Due to the growing epidemic of obesity in American children and adults, type 2 diabetes is no longer considered "adult-onset"; many children who are overweight are developing type 2 diabetes.  Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy.  Based on recently announced diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes, it is estimated that gestational diabetes affects 18% of pregnancies.

Complications of diabetes include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, neuropathy (nervous system disease), and amputation.  What is your risk for developing type 2 diabetes?  Here is a list of those who at higher risk:

• People with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and/or impaired fasting glucose (IGF)
• People over age 45
• People with a family history of diabetes
• People who are overweight
• Peole who do not exercise regularly
• People with low HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), high trigylcerides, or high blood pressure
• Certain racial and ethinic groups such as Non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaskan Natives
• Women who had gestational diabetes, or who have had a baby weighing 9 pounds or more at birth

You can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes through a healthy lifestyle.  Change your diet, increase your level of physical activity, maintain a healthy weight...with these positive steps, you can stay healthier longer and reduce your risk of diabetes.  All of the prevention tips are here at PROMATx Health Club!  Already diagnosed with some form of diabetes?  Exercise can help!!  Come in and talk with one of our trainers and our nutrition specialist and set up a plan to control diabetes.  Your family and friends want you to live a long, healthy life!!

Want more info?  Click HERE to go to the American Diabetes Association website.