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Diabetes is on rise; know how it can be controlled

By LaTanya Fisher
REACH US SEA-CEED

Diabetes, an incurable disease that is defined by high levels of sugar in the blood, is on the rise and currently affects more than 25.8 million people in the United States.

If current rates of development continue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that the prevalence of diabetes will rise to as much as 1 in 3 adults by the year 2050. This prediction is based on a number of factors, such as increasing obesity rates, aging populations and population growth among minority groups.

Diabetes is caused by the body's inability to produce enough insulin or because the cells do not respond well to the insulin produced. Management of diabetes is costly. In addition, there are a number of complications associated with diabetes including sexual dysfunction; heart disease, stroke, hypertension; blindness and eye problems; kidney disease; nervous system disease; amputations; and dental disease.

South Carolina is among the states with the highest concentrated prevalence of diabetes in the nation. Portions of the southeastern regions including South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Mississippi make up the diabetes belt. The belt is characterized by neighboring southeastern states in which at least 11 percent of residents were diagnosed with diabetes. Overall, within the diabetes belt, 11.7 percent of residents are diagnosed with diabetes. Outside of the belt, 8.5 percent of them have diagnosed diabetes.

Residents within the diabetes belt are more likely to have Type 2 diabetes. Taking personal action and working to reduce your risk can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Individuals at greater risk of developing diabetes: are 45 or older, have developed diabetes during pregnancy, have a sedentary lifestyle, are overweight, are African-American (or other high-risk ethnic groups) and/or have a family history. Additionally, we are seeing more Type 2 diabetes in youth who are overweight and not getting enough physical activity.

Taking personal action will greatly reduce the risk of developing this disease. An estimated 7 million Americans are unaware that they have diabetes. Many Americans are unaware that they are even at risk. Speak with your health care provider about being tested for diabetes, especially if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes. If you do not have diabetes, prevention should be a major goal.

The number one preventative measure of Type 2 diabetes is weight management. Obesity and inactivity account for nearly a third of the increased risk for Type 2 diabetes.

If you are overweight or obese, losing just 5 to 7 percent of your body weight and getting at least 150 minutes of exercise each week can have the greatest impact on reducing your risks of developing diabetes. During your next health care visit, speak with your health care provider about how to get started and take the necessary steps to safeguard your health.

To find out more information related to diabetes, contact REACH at 792-5872.

About REACH US SEA-CEED
South Eastern African American Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities in Diabetes aims to eliminate health disparities related to diabetes prevention and control by reducing risks and preventing complications of diabetes related to hypertension, stroke, and amputations in African-Americans.

For more information about it or educational material on diabetes, visit http://etl2.library.musc.edu/reach_new/index.html.

 

 

Friday, July 15, 2011

The Catalyst Online is published weekly by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to The Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.