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May 2007 »

Diabetes cases soaring in Wash. County

Friday, May 4, 2007

The number of diabetes cases has almost doubled in the Wash. County, U.S.A, over the last decade and public health department says eating habits are to be blamed for this.

A report by the Seattle King County public health department said that 5.6 percent of the county’s population had chronic disease, which was up from 2.8 percent in 1996. But still, 5.6 percent was below than the national average of 7.3 percent.

Income is also a factor that affects diabetes. Around 9 percent adults who earn less than $20,000 annually had diabetes while the ration percentage was just 5 percent among those who earned more than $20,000.

Dr. James W. Krieger said eating of high fat foods and lack of proper exercise were the causes that have increased obesity, which is a key risk factor in Type 2 diabetes.

The authors further wrote that obesity is becoming day by day common which means diabetes will continue to grow. He said there is no need to raise to awareness about diabetes because we have crossed that. Now its time to understand, why people aren’t listening?

Another startling revelation that came out was the rise in Type 1 diabetes also known as juvenile diabetes and for it there is no cure. However Type 2 diabetes can be avoided if a person eats healthy diet and does regular workouts.

The report said around 84,000 people in the Wash. County have been diagnosed with the illness, while 13,400 are borderline cases and many were not aware that they have it.

Nearly $1 billion a year is spend on treating diabetes and $25 million for hospitalizations.