As Georgians become heavier and more sedentary, diabetes
and related ailments are soaring.
“The greatest morbidity and mortality from the disease
are seen in the oldest age groups,” said Connie Crawley, a
University of Georgia extension nutrition specialist. “But
diabetes is developing at much younger ages, so disability and
death may become more common in younger populations soon.”
Grim Stats
A recent report by the American Diabetes Association and
the Georgia Department of Human Resources gave grave statistics
about the seriousness of diabetes in the state:
diabetes.
the state.
primary cause, there are at least two deaths for which diabetes
is a contributing cause.
percent each year for the past two decades.
African-American population than in the non-Hispanic white
population.
black men and three times higher for black women than for their
white counterparts.
Take Care
“Unfortunately, people with diabetes don’t seem to be
getting the care they need,” Crawley said.
A survey of Georgians with diabetes found that only 6
percent reported meeting the minimal standards for routine
medical care.
“Only 25 percent of adults had heard of the hemoglobin
A1c test, which is the best laboratory test to determine how well
diabetes is under control,” she said.
The lack of care lands many Georgia diabetes sufferers in
the hospital. In 1997, diabetes was the primary cause of more
than 12,600 hospitalizations, totaling 63,000 days in the
hospital (equal to 173 years) and costing more than $99
million.
“These figures don’t even include hospitalizations from
other health problems like kidney disease, high blood pressure,
amputations and cardiovascular disease which are more likely to
occur in those who have diabetes,” Crawley said.
Risk Groups
Statistics show that the highest incidence of diabetes
tends to be in the central and southwestern part of the state. “I
believe part of the reason … may be demographics,” Crawley
said. “The population is older and there are more people from the
highest-risk ethnic groups, namely African-Americans and now
Hispanics.”
The report speculates that the increase in diabetes may
be directly related to the increase in obesity and inactivity in
Georgians.
“We do know that those who exercise regularly and keep
their weight down have less risk even if they have a family
history of the disease,” Crawley said.
“Obviously, in Georgia, diabetes is a serious, common and
costly disease,” Crawley said. “New research has shown that with
better control, death and disability from diabetes can be
reduced.
“But it will require directing more money and effort into
weight-control and physical-activity efforts for all age groups
who don’t have diabetes,” she said, “and intense diabetes
education and care for those who have the disease or who may be
at risk for developing it.”
