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For many, November marks the beginning of the holiday season. It is a time to spend with loved ones, to reflect and give thanks for what we have in our lives. We also should take this opportunity to help promote a new awareness of our health with our family and friends. That is why I am pleased that November is National Diabetes Month.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. While the cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States. Unfortunately, there is no cure. It causes nearly 250,000 deaths annually, and today there are an estimated 20.8 million Americans who suffer from this chronic disease. Since 1990, there has been a 61 percent increase in the number of Americans with diabetes. From 2003 to 2004, there was over a six percent increase in Florida’s population being diagnosed with diabetes.
There are two major types of this disease that plague our communities. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body fails to produce insulin and is most prevalent in children and young adults. Those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes need daily injections of insulin to live. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes which is most common in the elderly, those with a family history of diabetes, and those who are physically inactive or obese. African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian-Americans/Pacific Islanders are most susceptible to this disease.
Along with the physical and emotional costs associated with diabetes, the financial burden also is significant. In 2002, the total economic cost of diabetes in the United States was estimated at $132 billion, with one out of every 10 health care dollars being spent on diabetes and its complications. In that year, the per capita cost of health care for those with the disease was $13,243. Although those diagnosed with diabetes represent fewer than five percent of our population, the disease accounts for 19 percent of the total personal health care expenditures in our country.
Although genetics contribute to the cause of diabetes, we must do all that we can to protect ourselves from this disease. As we head into this holiday season, make sure you eat well and exercise to help maintain a healthy lifestyle and minimize behaviors which contribute to adult-onset diabetes.
For more information on diabetes, please contact the American Diabetes Association at 1-800- DIABETES (1-800-342-2393) or visit www.diabetes.org. |
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