Condition could cost U.S. system $3.35 trillion, and may account for 10 percent of health care spending
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comHalf of Americans will face diabetes by 2020
Seeded on Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:39 PM EST (msnbc.com)
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Prevention begins with education. It is a fools' game to believe that doctors and medicine can solve the Type II problem.
huh, fat people have diabetes. who would have ever made that connection. Prevention begins with not being fat. Prevention of a lot of health issues starts with not being fat.
Yeah, skinny people have diabetes, but more often than not the more obese you are the higher your chances. Keep eating all that sugar and carbs and your chances go up too. They all go hand in hand.
How about we tie cost of care to obesity. You get the pills you need when you are under 20% body fat and you get to pay higher percentages of your meds and treatment the higher your %. We take care of the rare diabetes in thin healthy people and we give the fat motivation to not eat that bag of chips or bowl of ice cream.
20% is good, it allows you to be a little unhealthy, but still well within reason. you can still run at 20% without looking like an off balanced duck.
Speaking as one of the thin healthy diabetics I can definitively state that prevention needs to be made a priority in this country. Personal responsibility needs to make a comeback.
I don't know about anyone else here but all the people i have ever known that had diabetes were not fat at all.
I have yet to know a "fat" person in my life as of yet that had diabetes.
The people in know that have it, have it due to passed down by genes.
Below i got from adam cloe a doctor -
Type I Diabetes
Type I diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes. Type I diabetes typically affects patients early in their lives, either in childhood or when they are young adults, although it can start later in life. Type I diabetes is caused by problems in the immune system. It is thought to be a result of a combination of inherited (genetic) factors as well as another trigger, such as an infection or diet. The human genome has eighteen different regions (which have been termed IDDM 1-18 by geneticists) that have been linked to the development of Type I diabetes. Many of these regions are known to have genes that relate to the immune system and could cause the abnormal immune activation that causes Type I diabetes.
Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is often called adult-onset diabetes because it typically occurs later in life. This form of diabetes is also thought to have a genetic component. However, unlike other forms of diabetes which can be linked to discrete portion of the genome,
Type II diabetes is thought to be a result of a combination of genetic factors which aren't completely understood. Researchers are currently looking at the entire genomes of families with Type II diabetes in an attempt to identify the genetic factors. Currently the only two genes which have been identified are called CAPN10 and HNF4A. Patients who have these genes are thus at a higher risk of developing Type II diabetes.
nothing about sugar anywhere. It is a genetic problem first and formost, not sugar consumption.
I'd like to correct you on one point: genetics are a known factor in type 2 diabetes but presently not in type 1 diabetes. The main known factor in type 1 is that there is a virus that tricks your antibodies into thinking the pancreatic cells that produce insulin are the enemy, then your own antibodies destroy your ability to produce insulin. Type 1 is considered an autoimmune disease, not a genetic disease. Almost all type 1's have no family history of diabetes.
Well, with a glib dismissal of the entire science of endocrinology like that, let's put you in charge of treating all the nation's diabetics.
Hint: we're not all fat.
Satan - i read the article and that it is said to be also a genetic contribution to it.
Thing is people here think its due to sugar! It's not.
both types have a genetic factor. that's my point. i wasn't trying to argue the point as a genetic only disease but that sugar does not cause it.
thanks
Bill shut up, just shut up. I think it's more then just fat people, It's has to do with the crap they put in everything. HFCS is in almost all foods, stuff that is not considered junk food. I have seen this crap on meat products. There of course has been reports that there is no connection to HFCS and diabetes but it was funded mostly by companies that make it or profit from it. Eliminate it and I bet pre-diabetes goes down a lot. As far as a sin tax on junk food as suggested by other bloggers, I say stuff it. Lower the cost of traditional foods like fruits and vegetables and I would be happy to eat more of that then junk foods or prepackage foods that are little better then junk foods. It has gotten to the point that junk/prepackaged foods is all I can afford these days.
Diabetes is a lifestyle disease. Stop refined sugars and industrialized foods and watch it go away.
@Joe,
It has nothing to do with the intake of sugar. That is an old wives tale that really needs to go away. Moderation and education, along with some lifestyle changes, are really the best bets to combat type 2 diabetes.
If half of the U.S. is predicted to be diabetic in 10 years - but isn't now - then genetics isn't the reason for this gloomy situation. The study itself points at obesity, which in the U.S. is very much linked to excessive sugar and carb intake, as well as high fructose corn syrup and a laundry list of toxic laboratory plastic crap people push in their faces, be it from fast food or the grocery aisles. It doesn't take a genius to know that other countries don't have these issues and neither did we when people mostly ate locally grown fresh fruits and veggies, and actually cooked instead of tossing prepackaged blocks of junk into a microwave and imagined this was = to nutrition. Are there skinny, genetically predisposed diabetics? Yes, just not a lot, and certainly not such that there would be a spike of 155 million Americans. Seriously, put the candy, fried chicken, tacos, Cheetos, McNuggets and Dunkin' Donuts in the trash, and empty the cola down the drain. Then go take a 15-minute walk ... as long as it isn't to the corner KFC. Do Americans never look in the mirror or even glance at their reflection in a window when waddling through the mall? 50% of all children in the U.S. under 5 are from minority groups, the ones most expected to increase in population and have health issues.
Wow, how sad!
They need to implement a $6/LB sugar and junk-food tax to cover the health costs.
It worked for tobacco.
I hate taxes as much as the next guy but I would be inclined to agree with this since the costs of other people's indulgences affect my wallet. And its more of an optional tax rather than a mandatory one since you control what you buy or eat.
I just dont know where the line would be drawn if we open up this can of worms...when would it end and who decides whats good or not? The SF issue with their Happy Meals is insane in my opinion, but thats the problem. Where does this end?
Honestly I can get behind this. A main cause of the increasing healthcare costs in this country is because food has gotten cheaper and far less healthy, it's mostly filler these days. The only way to change that is to make the healthy food cheaper than the stuff that is literally killing us slowly.
I agree with Satan's Valet. Unfortunately when I shop I have to have a budget in mind. Also healthy food doesn't last so you have to shop more often...which takes time too.
My opinion, Repo Man, is that all it takes is just the tiniest bit of motivation and some personal organization. My wife and I eat like royalty - nothing but fresh organic produce, every meal is home cooked, except when we go out to eat once a week on Friday or Saturday night. Our food budget for 6 days a week is just over $100. And we live in Portland where food is more expensive than elsewhere, but higher quality too. Use a site like TastyPlanner.com to organize what you need for *exactly* 6 meals. No more and no less. stick to the plan, cook exactly what you buy, and you'll be doing great in no time. It's less expensive, not more, once you get organized.
You'd need to include potatoes, bagels, white bread, wheat bread, milk, etcetera etcetera etcetera etcetera.
Diabetes is not caused by sugar. It's caused by resistance to the insulin your body produces, PLUS, the body making less insulin over time. I'm a 41-yo type II who has been diagnosed since I was 30. The disease progresses. Regardless of how well I take care of myself (and I did it for 8 years running without using medicines, kept an AIC of 5.2 thank you very much, but finally my age caught up with me).
The glib dismissal that it's just fat people who eat junk food is not only insulting but completely dead-ass WRONG.
My health plan: eat real food that doesn't come from a can, a bag or a box. Shop around the edges of the grocery store, where the produce, dairy, and meat sections are. Eat fewer carbs, more protein and fresh veggies - organic if I can. Exercise. And can the sodas. Despite what the Corn producers want us to believe, High Fructose Corn Syrup metabolizes differently than sugar does. Plus the phosphoric acid eats up our bones. And don't even think about diet sodas - a part of Aspartame metabolizes as formaldehyde which damages cellular DNA. Aspartame (Nutra Sweet) has also been linked to brain tumors for the last 30 years...
Folks, the big food companies don't really care if we are healthy. They just want us to keep buying their processed 'foods'. They can make more money by taking a few real food ingredients and adding cheap fillers and artificial flavor enhancers like MSG and calling it food, than they can by selling us the actual fruit, vegetables and whole proteins we used to eat. Potato chips are more profitable than potatoes. Rice-a-roni is more profitable than rice itself. But all of this is at the expense of our health, so go figure. A great diet can actually deactivate some of the genes that can cause disease.
Happy Thanksgiving!
http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?q=high%20fructose%20corn%20syrup&k=high%20fructose%20corn%20syrup
http://search.mercola.com/results.aspx?k=aspartame
http://search.mercola.com/results.aspx?k=processed%20food
http://search.mercola.com/results.aspx?k=genes
I can feed ten people a week with 2000 calories a day for that $100 just buying off the $1 menu at McDonalds.
Get off your high horse, there are millions upon millions of people that can not budget $18.00 a day for "fresh", "organic", or "natural" food. Nor do they have the time to process it into something edible. Couple that with the stress of having to worry about losing one of your two full time jobs...you need "comfort" food to help alleviate the built up tension.
So, you are for the government dictating to the sheeple what THEY want us to eat by using the tax system?
Your joking right?
This same government that allows (and promotes) eating GMO foods via the Monsanto owned FDA?
This same government that allows drug companies to do their own studies and allows these drugs on the market with flawed research?
This same government who says it's ok for YOU to create a genetically modified food in your basement and put it on the market without ANY testing because GMO foods are IDENTICAL to the organic counterparts?
Dude, you must think our government can do no wrong.
I for one want them out of my life, out of my checkbook and protect our borders with the money I do pay. Not to impose on me what THEY think I should eat, wear, say, and how to behave by the use of Taxes.
We wont' even get into how they can molest me or my children legally, ignoring my constitutional rights, for the sake of a false sense of security.
Don't be a sheeple.
@ RobWI:
I take it you are using the word 'feed' very loosely...
Ever watch the movie 'Supersize Me'? After only 20 days on a purely McDonalds diet his doctors were warning him of all kinds of impending health problems. Everything from liver to kidneys to cholesterol and heart problems.
When writing a story about diabetes, you should always distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This story is about Type 2 diabetes and should be stated as such.
EXACTLY! I post a comment just like that every time a story about diabetes is covered by this site. It is very poor reporting. I realize that the two conditions share a common name but they are so very different they deserve the distinction!
What do you expect when Americans are getting obese? If they want to be fat, let them get sick.
I agree. But when THEIR health issues begin costing me money in the form of higher premiums and taxes, their obesity becomes my problem too. Its a fine line. Not sure what the answer is.
Come back when you have SOME understanding of what causes Type II diabetes.
Because, trust me, not even doctors agree on the root cause.
Uh, Maximillio...did I mention that specific disease? If you look at the original posting by Lorenzo, we are talking about obesity. Come back when YOU have some understanding of literary skills.
Those smokers costing millions in health cost Now we need a new color ribbon and a walk for Diabeties
They already have walks and ribbons for diabetes.
Big surprise here. Fast food nation with sedentary lifestyle and overly stressed workplace and family life equals America as a second tier country that exhibits no self restraint.
The CDC, whom I tend to trust more than an insurance company study, predicts that 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes by 2050. Slightly different than the article. Perhaps they want to raise premiums early? Not sure why there would be such a discrepancy.
At a guess I'd say the 2 studies used completely different methodologies. United was obviously pulling the data from their vast store of medical record information. The CDC would have only been able to pull from a much smaller sample, or already summed data released by the other health plans. Either way, the clear indication is that more people will be diabetic, putting a far greater strain on our nations' healthcare as a whole.
As a type 1 diabetic myself I can say with certainty that if you can prevent becoming diabetic you should work hard to do so, type 2 may be a lot easier to control than type 1 but believe me, you don't want either.
I read this online while watching TV and eating snacks WHY do I have diabeties
eating cheetos too? I bet your wiener is orange....
The general population is so dumb down and the health care system is so crappy I see very little hope. The right wing take over in the 80's has brought us to this point. People will never learn, they have enslaved themselves.
The right wing take over inthe 80's is the problem is it? Wow you must be a genuis or something. Have another bite of Papaya before ya head over to the think tank.
Well we get the link between mind/body/spirit- we need to impact corporate America which is a co-conspirator to folks' own depression/anxiety- give people jobs and health care and require that they find time to exercise in the middle of the day instead of eating large quantities of unhealthy drinks/foods. When we exercise, we immediately feel better and can be productive and more optimistic, then we can spread the optimism and make healthy soup/nurture each other- it is an organic process that can help us hear the laughter of children, vanquish violence, set our work towards tasks that matter and mentor our young to be healthy and joyful- it is my job to breathe life in to my day and help others to do the same..... blessed Thanksgivings to all, spread knowledge and goodness to others and it will be contagious..... we CAN destroy the cynicism that grips others....
But the billion dollar corn syrup industry assures me that 'corn sugar' is just like regular sugar... Maybe they are conveniently ignoring research showing far more weight gain and unhealthy fat even with same levels of sugar vs corn syrup.
We continue to ignore our own problems in that our diet is the leading cause of this issue. Adding drugs on top of a poor diet does nothing to solve the problem. All of the evidence world wide points to our heavy use of animal protein and lack of complete nutrition foods. We cannot supplement our way out of this. Read "The China Study" and "The Food Revolution" and make up your own mind. The USDA, Cattlemans Association, Dairy Association, Chicken and Egg Association, are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to suggest they are not a part of the problem. Read the books and make up your own mind. It is not just bad luck that the US leads the world in diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. Our diet is the cause and the solution. Get smart - do your own research.
Or if you don't like to read watch Food Inc. - guess who is buddy buddy with all of these organizations? The government...
We have to grab this obesity epidemic by the horns the same way we did smoking. It must become more than unfashionable to be fat. We should not accept in ourselves or others. Mom, grand-mom , if you wish to show your love for me ..don;t make me cake, cookies, unhealthy meals. Fix sodas or sugar laden juicy juice .
If you want to show your love for me ..ask me to go on a walk with you .We can chat it up , get to know each other better and at the same time be doing something tha tis burning calories rather than piling them on.
wives get on your hubby's but to work off that unhealthy spare tire ..don't accept him being overweight , don't accept yourself being over weight .. be a good example for your children .
Our kids came home from school telling us that smoking is bad for us , it will kill us and we quit for them and for us. Teachers you had a big part in this ..do the same for obesity get out the message that over eating, eating unhealthy meals foods and not exercising will kill us . empower our kids come home and tell us this ..it ain't cool to be fat .
The coming cutbacks in federal spending and the declining income of elder people may take care of that. Eating less food will do a lot to alleviate the problem. Living shorter lives will also alleviate the problem.
Given the ever rising health costs, older people will find themselves unable to afford the health care that might have kept them alive, and they will die. Death solves the diabetes problem quite emphatically.
is this due to global warming?
Let me guess...
You think Glen Beck is a journalist...
Yes he does...
Let me guess too. You think Barrack Obama is a President....
People need to look at their diets and the high glycemic meals intake...natural product on the market called Glucaloe that helps lower glycemic index and assist with reducing glucose levels.
I have been diagnosed as a diabetic over five years ago and the problem I have is the medical experts are always lowering the threshold number. No wonder everyone will become diabetics in the near future. Just look at all the money the drug companies are pulling in; from me along close to $200 every month. And by the way , I have never been over weight.
Haven't finish reading the article yet. My fingers are encrusted with cheetos and I don't want to dirty the mouse by scrolling. I wish they invented something so that the screen scrolls automatically once my eyes get to the bottom.
High Frutose Corn Syrup check your labels it is in everything we eat. Plus corn is so modified/engineered that it really is not corn but some GMO Food. That is our biggest problem but guess who subsidizes the corn industry that's right the GOVERNMENT. This the absolute worst food product we could be putting in our body.
Not to sound too crass, but pragmatically speaking, it seems a good place to do some strategic investing. It is unlikely that the America diet will change and there will most likely be companies that benefit significantly with treatments and pharmaceuticals in the period running up to 2020.
Americans need to limit the amount of sugar just generally added to food - things like bread and cereal are saturated with it. As an international traveler in the US, I began to feel very sickly after 5 days and just desperately needed a bowl of oatmeal with no sugar added to it. It's more insidious than a lot of people probably realize when an average pack of cereal (and I'm not talking Lucky Charms) can be 30% sugar. If you were to pour that much sugar straight into your bowl in the morning you'd be thinking 'hmm...maybe I've got a dietary problem'.
It's not the sugar. Sugar is not the cause of diabetes. Environmental factors and genetics play a big part in type 1. Those two factors, plus an indiscriminate diet and lethargic lifestyle, play as larger factors in developing type 2.
Although medical care is important to all, less not completely over look the advance to the medical community of this. Think maybe this way the medical powers to be has changed the guidelines for what is now considered to be diabetic. Not making this up, my number's are borderline, due to the change in what is considered to be type 2, without my blood sugar numbers actually changing I become type 2 according to my doctor, when the previous times was borderline and needed to just be checked on future visits to his office. Ever wonder why the nnumbers spiked not that long ago? Again I agree this is a serious medical issue that needs to be addressed, however also be aware with a simple change in the guidelines the numbers can be changed overnight to serve what ever purpose is trying to be achieved. Remeber as with everything else, it is all about the money.
As far as I know, the rule of thumb for diabetes is and always has been fasting blood sugar exceeding 127. Maybe 128.
I quit smoking last year after 31 years...I was underweight then or what I considered normal weight. Now I'm supposedly healthier because I don't smoke, I do work out but I'm craving baked goods and all kinds of bad for you foods. I think I was healthier when I smoked...I only quit because the cost...Now I will live extra long and be extra fat...
The problem has been with the medical professionals, they keep lowering the threshold limit number almost every year. If they keep doing this we will eventually all become diabetics. I was diagnosed as a diabetic over 5 years ago and been paying the price ever since. Just think of all the money the drug companies are making! By the way I never cared for junk food and I'm not over weigh, in fact under.