National Diabetes Month

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the National Diabetes Association and November is National Diabetes Month.

Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes) is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. While Type 1 diabetes can be managed well with insulin and nutrition management, a strong focus of the National Diabetes Association is finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes. This type of diabetes affects about 5% of those diagnosed with the disease.

Type 2 diabetes is developed through lifestyle choices including poor diet, lack of exercise and other factors. Individuals who are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese have a high-risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.  Fortunately, however, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and can also be treated.

Check out some of these facts from the National Diabetes Association:

Diabetes Statistics:

• Diabetes affects nearly 30 million children and adults in the U.S. today—nearly 10 percent of the population.
• Another 86 million Americans have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
• Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes by 2050 unless we take steps to Stop Diabetes®.
• Every 19 seconds someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with diabetes.
• African Americans and Hispanics are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites.

The Toll on Health:

• Diabetes nearly doubles the risk for heart attack and for death from heart disease.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among working-age adults.
• The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes.
• Roughly 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction and other nerve problems.

Cost of Diabetes:

• The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. is $245 billion.
• Direct medical costs reach $176 billion and the average medical expenditure among people with diabetes is more than two times higher than those without the disease.
• Indirect costs amount to $69 billion (disability, work loss, premature mortality).
• 1 in 10 health care dollars is spent treating diabetes and its complications.
• 1 in 5 health care dollars is spent caring for people with diabetes.

If you are overweight or obese, weight-loss surgery could significantly decrease your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, along with other life-threatening diseases. If you have already been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, surgery is even more important to lose excess weight to help manage or alleviate your need for medications.  Many of our patients are off their diabetes medications within 2-4 weeks of surgery.

“Because of my weight, what started off as gestational diabetes turned into full blown Type 2 diabetes.  When I left the hospital following my weight loss surgery I immediately stopped taking my diabetes medication (with approval from my doctor) and I’ve been clear of diabetes since!” – Lindsay Kerch, IWLS Patient

Awareness is key. Now is the time to change your lifestyle to live the life you deserve. Join us for a free informational class to learn more about our weight loss programs and ask questions. Register online at Iowa Weight Loss Specialists or call us at 515-327-2000.

Sources:

American Diabetes Month 2015 Messages and Fact Sheet

American Diabetes Association