Community Issue: Diabetes Henrietta Sandoval

1. Community Issue: DiabetesHenrietta Sandoval What is Diabetes? • According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes is “a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both” (National diabetes fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2005). • There are two main types, Type I and Type II. • Type I Diabetes: • occurs when the body’s immune system destroys certain cells that produce the hormone insulin in the pancreas • people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin through an injection or a pump • usually affects children and young adults, although it can occur at any age • accounts for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes (All information from the “National diabetes fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2005”) www.brainybetty.com

2. Diabetes • Type II Diabetes: • usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the pancreatic cells do not use insulin properly. As the need for insulin increases, the pancreas slowly loses its ability to produce it. • usually affects people who are older, obese, have a family history of diabetes and/or a history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, are physical inactivity, and belong to a particular race/ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Native Americans, and some Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders are at a particularly high risk for type 2 diabetes. • accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. • clinically-based reports and regional studies show that type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents, although still rare, is being diagnosed more frequently, especially in Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanic/Latino Americans (All information from the “National diabetes fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2005”) www.brainybetty.com

3. Diabetes in the U.S. Prevalence of diabetes in the United States, all ages, 2005 • 20.8 million people (7.0% of the population) have diabetes. • Diagnosed: 14.6 million people • Undiagnosed: 6.2 million people Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in people aged 20 years or younger, United States, 2005 • Approximately 176,500 people aged 20 years or younger have diabetes. This represents 0.22% of all people in this age group. • About one in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes. (All information from the “National diabetes fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2005”) www.brainybetty.com

4. Prevalence of diabetes in people aged 20 years or older in the U.S. in 2005 • (Graph from the “National diabetes fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2005”) www.brainybetty.com

5. Diabetes in New Mexico • Approximately 130,000 New Mexicans have diabetes, or about 1 in 11 adults • 92,000 know they have diabetes. Of this number, 5-10% have type I diabetes and 90-95% have type 2 diabetes • 38,000 do not know they have diabetes • Native Americans are about 3 times more likely to have diagnosed diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites. • Hispanics and African-Americans are about 2 times more likely to have diagnosed diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites. • About 1,662 children in New Mexico have diabetes (type 1 & type 2). • In in 2003, diabetes was the 6th leading cause of death in New Mexico • Table of Diabetes Prevalence among NM Adults (18 and older) by county (2004) Risk Factors • Among New Mexicans without diabetes, there are certain risk factors making them more susceptible to developing diabetes • Obesity: Over 1 in 2 adults in NM without diabetes are overweight or obese. • Physical inactivity: Almost 1 in 2 adults in NM without diabetes have no regular physical activity. (All information from New Mexico Department of Health, Diabetes Prevention and Control Program “Diabetes in New Mexico: the Facts”, December 1, 2005) www.brainybetty.com

6. Treating Diabetes • For people with type 1 diabetes, insulin must be delivered by injection or a pump. • For people with type 2 diabetes, blood glucose levels can be controlled by following a healthy meal plan and exercise program, losing excess weight, and taking oral medication. Medications for controlling cholesterol and blood pressure may also be needed. • Diabetes self-management education (DMSE) is an integral component of medical care. • American Diabetes Association Diabetes Risk Test • (All information from the “National diabetes fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2005”) www.brainybetty.com

7. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2005. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005. New Mexico Department of Health, Diabetes Prevention and Control Program “Diabetes in New Mexico: the Facts”, December 1, 2005 New Mexico Department of Health, Diabetes Prevention and Control Program “Estimated Diabetes Prevalence Among New Mexico Adults, 2004” www.brainybetty.com