Obesity trends: one 3rd of U.S. may have diabetes by 2050

At its present rate of boost, diabetes can be a fact of life for a third of the U.S. Population by 2050. An increasing trend toward obesity and an aging populace were cited as the primary problems in a Centers for Disease Control report published on Oct. 22. 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, according to the CDC. According to a CNN article, obesity continuing the way it does will severely affect diabetes. By 2050, diabetes are expected to double, if not triple. Right now, diabetes is a condition that 6 million people have but don’t know about this. The CDC explained that you will find 57 million Americans with excess fat around their midsection. These people are pre-diabetic and, unless they change their lifestyle, will develop diabetes. Most will end up with bodies that can’t produce insulin giving them type 2 diabetes.

Costs increase for diabetes treatment

There is nothing to do to prevent growing older and preventing diabetes that way. However, the biggest risk factor — obesity — could be avoided with a healthy diet and exercise. You are able to conserve money by simply avoiding obesity. According to the American Diabetes Association, Americans already spend $174 billion annually to treat diabetes. Before you are 45, it is suggested by the ADA that you get screened for diabetes. If you are obese, you should try checking 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. Its prevention efforts target communities where healthy food is hard to discover and safe places to exercise are scarce. The prevention will reduce the number of cases of diabetes. However, the CDC found there would still be an boost in the cases of diabetes. The authors wrote that without preventive intervention, 3.5 million cases are expected in 2050. 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