By now most people know that diabetes is a problem in the United States. They know that obesity rates are climbing and that Type 2 diabetes – which accounts for approximately 90 percent of the cases – is often linked to being overweight.
Most people know that diet and exercise can reduce those levels. They know that diabetes can lead to countless health problems, including heart disease, stroke, blindness and kidney disease.
And yet, a report this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the rate of new diabetes cases nearly doubled in the United States over the past decade. In West Virginia, which saw the highest rates, roughly 13 out of every 1,000 adults were diagnosed with the disease. In Minnesota, which was lowest in the study, five of every 1,000 had diabetes.
The study did a state-by-state review of new diagnoses, which revealed that southern states saw the greatest surge in new cases. That included Florida, which had the third highest number of annual new cases from 2005-07 with approximately 139,000.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new. The rate of diabetes, in particular Type 2, continues to grow. That’s why people who are most at risk – people who are overweight, sedentary, have a family history or genetic predisposition such as race – need to monitor themselves.
After reading the study results and knowing that I have a family history for diabetes, I took this test on the American Diabetes Association’s Web site. My risk currently is low, though I need to lose some weight. But as the ADA notes, there are nearly 24 million Americans with diabetes and nearly a quarter are unaware they have the disease.
Studies like this should be a wakeup call. Take this quick, easy test to see if you’re at risk. If you are, talk to your doctor and work to modify your lifestyle as necessary, rather than become another statistic in the next study.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
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