Obesity Trends: One 3rd Of U.S. Could Have Diabetes By 2050
One 3rd of all Americans could be dealing with diabetes by 2050 if the disease continues spreading at the current pace. The Centers for Disease Control released a record Friday attributing the projected trend to increasing obesity rates and an aging population. As the cost of treating diabetes is expected to triple, the CDC has launched efforts reduce the number of cases.
Millions don't know they're diabetic
Diabetes presently affects 1 in 10 Americans -- about 23.6 million people, as outlined by the CDC. A CNN article on the study reported that if obesity trends continue, diabetes cases are expected to double and possibly triple by 2050. Right now, diabetes is a condition that 6 million people have but don't know about it. The CDC said 57 million Americans with excess fat around the midsection are pre-diabetic and destined to develop the condition unless their lifestyles change. Most of will end up with type 2 diabetes, and their bodies will lose the ability to produce insulin.
Diabetes treatment costs skyrocket
There is nothing to do to prevent growing older and preventing diabetes that way. Eating healthy and getting exercise is something everyone can do. This is the biggest thing one can do to help their risk. Avoiding obesity will conserve a lot of money as well. According to the American Diabetes Association, Americans already spend $174 billion annually to treat diabetes. Get screened for diabetes before you're 45. That is what the ADA recommends every person does, regardless how healthy they are. Obese people should think about getting tested at an earlier age.
Just adding pounds of prevention is better than giving ounces of a cure
There is a plan in motion for the CDC to help people make better lifestyle choices in order to cut back diabetes. It has targeted areas where it is hard to find safe places to exercise and food that is healthy. The CDC found though that the number of cases would continue increasing overall besides the prevention efforts reducing the number. By 2050, 3.5 million cases of diabetes can be found without any kind of prevention. With prevention efforts, 3.1 million people will learn they have the disease for a net reduction of 344,000 diabetics in 2050.
Citations
CNN
pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/22/diabetes-numbers-expected-to-triple-by-2050/?npt=NP1
ABC News
abcnews.go.com/Health/Diabetes/cdc-predicts-dramatic-increase-diabetes/story?id=11946076
MedPage Today
medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Diabetes/22922