The statistics given below are alarming and should not be pushed under the carpet. Federal health agencies need a scientific & independent evaluation of the facts and figures.According to a recent health report - "The rate of new diabetes cases nearly doubled in the United States in the past 10 years, the government said Thursday. The highest rates were in the South, according to the first state-by-state review of new diagnoses. The worst was in West Virginia, where about 13 in 1,000 adults were diagnosed with the disease in 2005-07. The lowest was in Minnesota, where the rate was 5 in 1,000."
Approximately 90 % of the cases are type 2 diabetes - the form linked to obesity.
This is indeed a matter of introspection for health experts & official agencies.
So why is the percentage so high in the souther states? is it the climate, lifestyle or the food habits?
"It isn't surprising the problem is heaviest in the South - no pun intended," agreed Matt Petersen, who oversees data and statistics for the American Diabetes Association.
According to the Center for Disease Control - "Diabetes was the nation's seventh-leading cause of death in 2006".
In a recent survey, it was disclosed that - "More than 23 million Americans have diabetes, and the number is rapidly growing. About 1.6 million new cases were diagnosed among adults last year".
So what is Type 2 diabetes?
The mechanism of Type 2 diabetes is ..
The cells are not able to utilize insulin properly
As we know Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugar into energy
The pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce Insulin - which means a build up indisposed sugar in the body
This sugar build up leads to complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and poor circulation that leads to foot amputations.
According to research conducted by CDC in 40 states for the years 2005-07.
West Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee had the highest rates, all at 11 cases per 1,000 or higher
Puerto Rico was about as high as West Virginia, Minnesota, Hawaii and Wyoming had the lowest rates.
Older people, blacks and Hispanics tend to have higher rates of Type 2 diabetes and the South has large concentrations of all three groups
However, West Virginia is overwhelmingly white.
So race related Type 2 Diabetes theory is still inconclusive. But, what is conclusive is that You are in the danger zone of Type 2 diabetes if you are:
Over weight
lead a sedentary life style
You have no daily physical activity or exercise routine
It does not matter where you, you should consult your doctor if you start gaining weight or have trouble doing small daily activities.
Lets fight Obesity & Type 2 diabetes together!
Author is a healthcare, aromatherapy, natural herbs & culinary Enthusiast.
Also contributes regular articles & blog posts at: http://www.phenocal.net/ & http://www.phenocal.org/
