November 09, 2007

Can You Prevent Diabetes?

Learn risk factors and take steps to prevent or delay the disease

BETTENDORF, IOWA - Today the United States is home to more than 18 million people living with diabetes. With rates of the disease continuing to rise, that number could reach 48 million by the year 2050.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and there are some important facts to know about the increasing prevalence of this disease.

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults, kidney failure and limb amputations, as well as a major cause of high blood pressure and stroke. People with diabetes have a higher risk of contracting illnesses and are more likely to die from pneumonia and influenza. They are also two to four times more likely than people without diabetes to develop heart disease.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Cases of Type 2 diabetes have tripled in the past 30 years. While genetics undoubtedly plays a part, the increase in Type 2 diabetes is also strongly associated with the increase in obesity, lack of physical activity, and American’s increased consumption of fatty foods.

Pre-diabetes, or impaired glucose tolerance, is also becoming more prevalent in the U.S. This condition occurs when a person’s blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.This means they are at a higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 40 percent of U.S. adults ages 40 to 74 — or 41 million people — had pre-diabetes in 2000. New data suggests that at least 54 million U.S. adults had prediabetes in 2002. Those with pre-diabetes are likely to develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years, unless they take steps to prevent or delay diabetes. You are more likely to develop

Type 2 diabetes if:

• You are overweight;
• You are 45 years old or older;
• You have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes;
• Your family background is African-American, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander;
• You have had gestational diabetes or gave birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9 pounds;
• Your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or you have been told that you have high blood pressure;
• Your HDL cholesterol is 35 or lower, or your triglyceride level is 250 or higher;
• You are physically active fewer than three times a week.

The Diabetes Prevention Program, a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, found that people at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing just 5-7 percent of their body weight through increased physical activity and a reduced fat and lower calorie diet. The results show that millions of high-risk people can use diet, exercise, and behavior modification to avoid developing Type 2 diabetes.

Genesis can help, too. Our experts at the Genesis Diabetes Care Center can provide the tools that will help you make the lifestyle changes needed to reduce your risk for developing diabetes.

For more information about the Diabetes Care Center at Genesis, call 421-1061 in Bettendorf; 792-4389 in Silvis; or 659-4256 in DeWitt.

– By M. Irene C. Feria, M.D., Genesis Health Group Endocrinology

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