Diabetes an issue of local concern
According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, and 90% of those have type 2. People of any age can develop type 2 diabetes, but it is more common in middle-aged and older people. It also has significant impacts on other areas of health and, as an underlying cause, was the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and ninth leading cause of death in our 6-county health region. We also have a higher rate in our local population than in Colorado as a whole.
Because it is identified as a local health risk, screening and prevention of chronic health conditions such as diabetes is a focal point for Northeast Colorado Public Health Department’s past and future Public Health Improvement Plans. NCHD is currently in the process of gathering community information to create our next Public Health Improvement Plan that will begin in 2024. You can participate in the process by completing the Community Health Assessment 2022. The data is voluntary and is used to inform our community health programming with the aim to improve quality of life of our residents. Find the survey at https://www.nchd.org/ or pick up a paper copy at any of the six NCHD offices.
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that occurs when your body cannot properly transfer glucose from the blood into cells to be used for energy, resulting in too high levels remaining in the blood. Symptoms may include increased thirst and urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and numbness in the feet or hands.
Risk factors for developing this disease include being over the age of 35, having a family history of diabetes, being overweight, not getting enough physical exercise, and using tobacco products. Tobacco contributes to circulatory problems and nicotine itself reduces the effectiveness of insulin requiring higher levels of insulin to control blood sugar. Smoking specifically increases the risk for other serious health problems as well, including:
• heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
• high blood pressure
• kidney disease
• poor blood flow in legs and feet that can result in infections and possible amputation of toes or feet
• damage to the nerves in the arms and legs called peripheral neuropathy that causes numbness, pain, weakness, and poor coordination
Having diabetes, even without using tobacco, still means you are at higher risk for:
• stroke
• eye diseases leading to poor vision or blindness
• foot ulcers
• bacterial and fungal infections
• gum disease
The good news is you can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by losing a small amount of weight and getting regular physical activity. A small amount of weight can be 10-14 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds and walking 30 minutes 3-5 times a week qualifies as regular exercise. This is not always easy and making those changes may require some support.
Since not everyone will have clear symptoms, it’s important to have regular check-ups. Your health care provider will be able to tell you which tests are needed and may also refer you to other health care professionals who can help. It is useful to have a team of professionals who can help you manage your diabetes, for example a registered dietician to help with healthy meal planning or a podiatrist for specialized foot care. It is also imperative to maintain your general health and routine care.
Diabetes is too common and too dangerous to take it lightly. Luckily there are a lot of resources to support your efforts to reduce your risks or manage your diagnosis. For instance, local CSU Extension offices serving eastern and northeastern Colorado have diabetes education resources and cooking classes. There is also additional information about all types of diabetes, and more resources to support healthy eating and ways to safely increase your activity, at these websites:
• American Diabetes Association: https://diabetes. org/healthy-living
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: https:// www.niddk.nih.gov/healthinformation/diabetes
• CDC Diabetes pages: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/index.html