Majority of California adults have pre-diabetes or diabetes
According to a UCLA study released on March 10th, nearly half of the adults in California (and one of every 3 young adults) have either undiagnosed diabetes or are pre-diabetic. The study, conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, took eight months and breaks down rates by county, age, and ethnicity:
PREDIABETES AND DIABETES BY COUNTY
Alameda County — 47 percent; 5 percent*
Contra Costa County — 47 percent; 8 percent
Marin County — 50 percent; 2 percent
Monterey County — 45 percent; 12 percent
Napa County — 48 percent; 6 percent
San Benito County — 47 percent; 12 percent
San Francisco County — 44 percent; 4 percent
San Mateo County — 47 percent; 7 percent
Santa Clara County — 46 percent; 9 percent
Santa Cruz County — 45 percent; 7 percent
Solano County — 45 percent; 13 percent
Sonoma County — 49 percent; 10 percent
* Adults ages 18 and older.
Harold Goldstein, executive director of the California Center for Public Health, sees the study- that analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the California Health Interview Survey- as a wake-up call. Understanding that 46 percent of adults in California(that’s 13 million people)have pre-diabetes or undiagnosed diabetes(and still another 9 percent have already been diagnosed with diabetes) is very sobering for the authors of the study, Legislators and health care workers.
From the article on Marinij:
“Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal — but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Up to 30 percent of those identified with prediabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes within five years, and as many as 70 percent will develop the disease in their lifetime. Diabetes is associated with dramatically increased risk of amputation, nerve damage, blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, hospitalization and premature death.”
Many people aren’t tested for pre-diabetes because often the test isn’t covered by insurance(more proof that the system is broken) yet knowing that you are pre-diabetic and that exercise and eating habits can radically change that problem, and save you from a host of health issues- even death- is critical.
Sadly there are also pronounced racial and ethnic disparities among Californians: “There are statistically higher pre-diabetes rates among young adult Pacific Islanders (43 percent), African-Americans (38 percent), American Indians (38 percent), Latinos (36 percent) and Asian-Americans (31 percent) than whites (29 percent), pointing to the need to focus additional prevention efforts in those communities…” reports Marinij. But this isn’t just happening in California; in the last 30 years, diabetes rates have tripped in the US. While the thought of imposing a tax on sugary drinks isn’t maybe the best option, or certainly the only one- but you can only lead a horse to water, you can’t make it drink- it is one that many have considered and Berkeley, CA has become the first city in the country to do so.
It is up to each person to take control of their health. No one should have to do it for you nor make you do it. And we are here to help and encourage you: for healthy and fun recipes, click here. And don’t forget to MOVE! Your body will love you for it.
Source: Marinij
