Diabetes
ranks among deadliest diseases,
risk greater with age
Diabetes is
the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States. This year, more
than 213,000 will die from the disease and its related
complications. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2002
was estimated to be $132 billion, or one out of every 10 health care
dollars spent in the United States.
Studies indicate that diabetes is
generally under-reported on death certificates, particularly in the
cases of older persons with multiple chronic conditions such as
heart disease and hypertension. Because of this, the toll of
diabetes is believed to be much higher than officially reported.
Prevalence
Diabetes prevalence increases with
age.
Approximately half of all diabetes cases occur in people older than
55 years of age.
The risk
for type 2 diabetes increases with age. Approximately 18.3% (8.6
million) of the United States population age 60 and older have
diabetes.
Seniors and diabetes-related
complications
The
complications of diabetes include heart disease, stroke, vision
loss/blindness, amputations and kidney disease.
Heart disease
and stroke. More than 65% of people with diabetes will die of
heart disease or stroke, and they are likely to die younger that
people who do not have diabetes. People with diabetes have the same
cardiovascular risk as if they have already had a heart attack.
People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to have heart
disease (more than 77,000 deaths due to heart disease annually).
Heart disease death rates are also 2 to 4 times as high as adults
without diabetes. And, people with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more
likely to suffer a stroke.
Blindness due to diabetic retinopathy.
Each year 12,000 to 24,000 people lose their sight because of
diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness in people
20-74 years of age.
Kidney disease due to diabetic nephropathy.
Ten to 21% of all people with diabetes develop kidney disease.
Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease
(kidney failure), accounting for 43% of new cases. In 2000, 41,046
people with diabetes initiated treatment for end-stage renal
disease, and 129,183 people with diabetes underwent dialysis or
kidney transplantation. People with diabetes who are over 65 years
of age are twice as likely to be hospitalized for kidney infections
compared with those without diabetes.
Nerve disease and amputations. About
60-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of diabetic
nerve damage, which, in severe forms, can lead to lower limb
amputations. In fact, diabetes is the most frequent cause of
non-traumatic lower limb amputations. The risk of a leg amputation
is 15-40 times greater for a person with diabetes. Each year, 82,000
people lose their foot or leg to diabetes.
How Do You Prevent or Delay Diabetes?
It is possible to prevent or delay the onset of type 2
diabetes by reducing lifestyle risk factors through moderate weight
loss and increased physical activity. A study sponsored by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), and partially funded by the
American Diabetes Association, called the Diabetes Prevention
Program has shown that lifestyle changes can significantly delay and
possibly prevent diabetes.
What is needed for seniors with
diabetes?
In ideal
circumstances, people with diabetes will have their disease under
good control and have access to quality diabetes care including
frequent monitoring by a health care team knowledgeable in the
management of diabetes.
Access to
quality treatment is important. People with diabetes need
affordable health care. As of July 1, 1998, Medicare will reimburse
all patients with diabetes, regardless of insulin treatment, for the
cost of blood glucose monitors and testing strips as well as
non-hospital based diabetes education when provided by a certified
provider.
Health care team education is vital.
Because people with diabetes have a multi-system chronic disease,
they are best monitored and managed by highly skilled health care
professionals trained with the latest information on diabetes to
help ensure early detection and appropriate treatment of the serious
complications of the disease. A team approach to treating and
monitoring this disease serves the best interests of the patient.
Patient education is critical. People
with diabetes can reduce their risk for complications if they are
educated about their disease, learn and practice the skills
necessary to better control their blood glucose levels, blood
pressure and cholesterol levels, and receive regular checkups from
their health care team. Smokers should stop smoking, and overweight
people with diabetes should develop a moderate diet and exercise
regimen under the guidance of a health care provider to help them
achieve a healthy weight.
People with diabetes,
with the help of their health care providers, should set goals for
better control of blood glucose levels, as well as blood pressure
and cholesterol levels.
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