American Diabetes - The American Lifestyle May Be Killing Us
When looking at Diabetes, it is interesting to see how the condition affects different groups of people based on varying factors, like age, race, and sex. Because it has been speculated that those factors do play a role in the overall cause of the condition, knowing where you fall into the spectrum will help you gauge your own risk.
American Diabetes is a growing problem. There are an estimated 20.8 million patients affected by some form of diabetes; and it includes pre-diabetics, as well as potentially undiagnosed cases. This equates to 7% of the U.S. population! Of this amount, 176,500, or .22% are young adults or children under the age of 20. This breaks down to one in every 400-600 children and adolescents. It is estimated that two million (or 1 in 6) overweight adolescents have pre-diabetes, which without treatment will eventually lead to full-blown type 2 diabetes. If caught soon enough, the condition can be avoided.
Breaking these numbers down even further suggests that 9.7 million women, and 10.9 million men aged 20 or older are affected by diabetes and close to 33% of them have no clue. Women who are African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Hispanic/Latino seem to be at a 2-4 times higher risk of developing diabetes than a Caucasian female.
As if these numbers are not shocking enough, research shows that at least 3 out of 5 people living with Type 2 Diabetes in America has at least one other serious complication as a result of the condition. These conditions have to do with the eyes, heart, kidneys, and even foot problems so serious that amputation may soon be the only option. Reports also show that 1 out of 10 people or 10.3 % has at least two serious complications. 1 out of 15 people or 6.7% have at least three complications, and an astonishing 1 in every 13 or 7.6% of diabetic Americans have at least 4 complications resulting from diabetes.
American Diabetes is more than just a growing health problem. It is also a growing financial problem. Data presented for 2006 spending shows an estimate of 22.9 billion dollars being spent on diabetic related medical care and supplies. Also included in this report is that the annual healthcare cost of people with diabetes are about three times higher than a person without the condition, and that each of those patients are paying an average of $1,600 each year for medical expenses that are not reimbursed or covered by an insurance plan.
American Diabetes may seem alarming enough to you, but the fact is, soon it will become a global issue. China and India are at the top of the list for diabetes cases now, accounting for about 50 million cases, which will soon soar to 120 million if no actions are taken to prevent it. Not only do we need American awareness, but global awareness too.