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Reuters
A breakdown of U.S. diabetes cases shows dramatic increases in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes overall between 1995 and 2010, with especially sharp increases among people in the South and in Appalachian states.
According to a study released on Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of diagnosed cases of diabetes grew by 50 percent or more in 42 U.S. states, and by 100 percent or more in 18 states.
In 2010, 18.8 million Americans had been diagnosed with diabetes and another 7 million had undetected diabetes, according to the CDC.
States with the largest increases over the 16-year period were Oklahoma, up 226 percent; Kentucky, up 158 percent; Georgia, up 145 percent; Alabama, up 140 percent, Washington, up 135 percent, and West Virginia, up 131 percent, according to the study published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
"Regionally, we saw the largest increase in diagnosed diabetes prevalence in the South, followed by the West, Midwest, and Northeast," Linda Geiss, a statistician with CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation and lead author of the report, said in a statement.
The findings reinforce data from other studies showing that southern and Appalachian states were experiencing the biggest regional gains in diabetes diagnoses, Geiss said.
Although much of the increase in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes is likely due to more people developing the condition, the study also notes that diabetes treatments have improved, which may mean that more people are living longer with their disease.
Type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented through lifestyle changes, accounts for 90 percent to 95 percent of all diabetes cases in the United States, according to the CDC.
"These rates will continue to increase until effective interventions and policies are implemented to prevent both diabetes and obesity," Ann Albright, director of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, said in a statement.
Globally, there are now 371 million people living with diabetes, up from 366 million a year ago, according to the latest report by the International Diabetes Federation, up from 366 million a year ago.
Without significant lifestyle changes, the group projects as many as 552 million will have diabetes by 2030.
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So the highest incidences of Diabetes is in the majority red states. Good ole high fructose corn syrup and fried foods and processed crap that we eat without thinking anything about the fact the the FDA is the lobbying arm of the food industry. We are fed things like aspartame that causes cancer, GMO's by Monsanto and other things that they won't even let into many European countries. They count on the US consumer being stupid to make obscene profits.
Its all about taking care of yourself.
Southern FRIED chicken... and EVERYTHING fried is NOT healthy!!! Get the picture? Lay off the gravy on everything!!
However... FAT does make food taste good... Get it???
Big problem is they use the wrong kind of fat to add taste to things.
it's that high fructose corn syrup. It has to be
How ironic is it that the red states are going to get the benefit of Obama-care?
Romney should have been pledging to cut sausage gravy instead of big bird.
Study is a bit misleading because around 2000 they lowered the blood glucose level 10 points. That included a lot more people.
I was a teacher for many years and the obesity rates soared year after year. Because of political correctness, the school staff had to be very careful regarding what we said to the parents. I've had parents tell me with a straight face that their child "just looks at food and they gain weight." Of course the candy wrappers and empty chip bags I found on the floor surrounding the child's desk, couldn't have anything to do with it. I've also experienced a few adult diabetics tell me that "they planned their binges and as long as they had insulin, it was o.k" I kid you not!!!!!
What we're really talking about is a food addiction. Managing and dealing with this "tiger" isn't easy. Unlike alcohol you have to take it out of the "cage" at least three times a day. But there is help. Start with your doctor or nurse practitioner. There's also Overeaters Anonymous, which is free and will help anybody who truly wants to change their life.
I want to encourage all of the parents who have an overweight child to please think of their child and do something now. The older the child gets, the harder it gets. I don't think any parent wants to have a 200 pound child in fourth grade, like I did.
Peace.
The two hundred plus pound fourth grader wasn't my child. They were a student.