Uncontrolled diabetes wreaks havoc on the body, often leading to kidney failure, blindness and death. A new study shows that the nation’s unchecked diabetes epidemic exacts a heavy financial toll as well: $174 billion a year. That’s about as much as the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and the global war on terrorism combined. It’s more than the $150 billion in damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.
The incidence of diabetes has ballooned ”” there are 1 million new cases a year ”” as more Americans become overweight or obese, according to the study, released Wednesday by the American Diabetes Association. The cost of diabetes ”” both in direct medical care and lost productivity ”” has swelled 32% since 2002, the report shows.
Diabetes killed more than 284,000 Americans last year, according to the diabetes association.
Diabetes costs the nation nearly as much as cancer, whose costs in 2006 totaled $206.3 billion, although cancer kills twice as many people, according to the American Cancer Society.
Diabetes (II) is almost always the result of gluttony. As with HIV, prevention is extraordinarily simple. Simple, not easy, given typical human proclivities.
What we must work most diligently to avoid is any sort of government mandated “guaranteed-issue” insurance system which (quite bluntly) forces those of us who make wise lifestyle choices to subsidise those who have not. Nobody holds a gun to their heads and forces them to eat more than pigs.
Bart Hall has it right. I would add, though, that it’s not just the quantity of food eaten, but the kind. Fast food and processed foods that contain any of five things in the “first five ingredients (white sugar, “enriched” wheat flour, partially hydrogenated oil of any kind, animal fat and high fructose corn syrup) play a huge part as well. Looking for organic alternatives and reading food labels is a good practice. Then there’s that sedentary lifestyle that our culture and technology encourage; regular exercise can significantly lower risk of developing Type II diabetes.
Let’s start an anti-diabetic movement. Let’s face it, they’re more of a threat than anything radical Muslims can devise. Food re-education camps might be called for.
Thank you Dan…
Pardon the lame segue, but speaking of consuming sugary, processed substances, the hosts of the Faith TV program “Flamethrower” plan to consume a sugar cookie make in the likeness of Muhammad on their next show. See here. Let’s see how much controversy this stirs up.
I should add, Bart, that just before my brother died from the complications of the diabetes he never knew he had, (he was misdiagnosed as having an inner ear infection…would you like to make a sweeping generalization about doctors, now?) he ran 6-8 miles each day. Diabetes also has a genetic factor.
I have known a few people who had Type II diabetes and were not obese, so let’s not get carried away. But it’s true that most people can avoid the disease or improve their condition by losing weight.
Steven, it’s fortunate not too many people will see that show. I oppose extremist Islam, but that show is deliberately crude. We have enough troubles without someone’s stirring up something this childish. I [i]am[/i] interested to see what’s going to be in that Dutch documentary due to be aired soon; that will probably create much more of a fuss.
Thanks for your comment Katharine:
[i]I have known a few people who had Type II diabetes and were not obese, so let’s not get carried away. But it’s true that most people can avoid the disease or improve their condition by losing weight.[/i]
It’s too easy on one hand to start casting blame “it’s all their own fault” or on the other hand to become defensive “I (or my friends/family member) with diabetes (or high risk thereof) eat healthily, exercise, it’s not my/their fault etc…” and thus try to generalize from specific cases on either side to “everyone” which is not very helpful in the discussion.
I’m personally at VERY high risk for Type II diabetes due to an underlying medical condition, a hormonal disorder known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). If I recall my research correctly, something like 50% of women over 40 with PCOS develop Type II diabetes. (Studies i’ve read estimate that up to 5-10% of women of reproductive age in the US have PCOS, so it’s quite a common disorder.) PCOS is linked with insulin resistance which leads to obesity so it’s hard in some cases to separate cause and effect. I was a skinny child until I hit puberty and my weight then ballooned even though I was active in sports in school, etc.
Being so aware of diabetes given my personal risk, and my profession tied to work in the field of public health and nutrition I have made quite an effort in the past 4-5 years to eat better, cut carbs, and exercise more, but it’s still a huge struggle. During a 10 month period in 2001 – 2002 while I was in the US and could thus very aggressively diet and exercise (neither which are at ALL easy given my lifestyle, work or the local food when I’m back here in Africa), I averaged 1200 – 1400 calories per day (I kept an extensive daily food journal for 6 months) and exercised for 40-60 minutes per day an average of 4 days per week (swimming laps and long walks). I lost close to 20 pounds, but it was such an effort. Many other folks with a different metabolism on the same diet & exercise regime would have lost double the weight in that period.
I think the growing awareness of the HUGE public health problem created by diabetes is actually a really helpful and positive thing. So much of what helps cause the diabetes epidemic is linked to our sedentary lifestyle (working seated at a computer or in meetings all day, having so many labor-saving devices…) and our culture. But if the broader culture begins to recognize the problem and make changes it becomes easier for those of us with diabetes or a high risk for diabetes to get the support needed (for example, in allowing time during the work day to exercise (or making exercise facilities available), providing healthier meal options in restaurants, etc.).
I’m actually seeing this happening before my eyes here in West Africa, where, in the country/city where I live, there too is a huge epidemic of diabetes. 5 years ago it was impossible to get diet beverages. Now they’re available widely. 10 years ago it was considered improper for women to exercise in public. Now some of the soccer stadiums have set aside designated hours when women can come and run or speedwalk there. The strong super-sugary mint tea which used to be consumed in MASSIVE quantities and was obligatory to drink if you wanted to be a polite and respectful guest is now understood as a problem, and it is more acceptable to decline or drink less of the tea. Wholegrain pastas and breads are becoming available, etc. etc. The cultural awareness is creating a market for such things, and changes in lifestyle which is making it easier for all of us who struggle with our weight or diabetes, often despite our very real best efforts, to actually begin to see improvements in our health and decrease in our weights.
I’m VERY thankful. It’s actually quite truly an answer to prayer since the unhealthy diet and lifestyle here was something I had begun 5-6 years ago to wonder whether it might prematurely cut short my missions work.
Probably a lot more detail than y’all wanted to know. But diabetes is actually a huge and growing GLOBAL problem, and it’s a CULTURAL problem as much as a problem due to individual choices/gluttony. Obviously each individual has responsibility to change and take action in the face of such illness, but cultural change is needed too.
We tend to cause a lot of unintended consequences when we formulate policy on the basis of emotionally-appealing cases out on the tails of the curve — Terry Schiavo being a pertinent example. My favorite aunt had Diabetes (II) and was always quite lithe. The underlying cause in her case was a slow-growing pancreatic cancer.
Outliers are outliers because they are exceptional. What used to be called Adult-onset diabetes had its name changed to Type II because the condition was becoming so common in obese children. When we overload the body with sugar it will tend to overwhelm the pancreas. D’oh.
In the Christian context, overloading the body with sugar (or anything else) is not taking proper care of the “temple.” It’s poor stewardship of the body we’ve been given, and it’s considered one of the seven “deadly” sins. God warns us away from what will often hurt us.
This article uses the word Diabetes when it is really talking about the problems controlling Type 2 Diabetes. The presentation of Type 1 Diabetes is usually quick, severe, and life threatening — there is almost never a stage of prediabetes. A Type 1 is almost never over weight. The cause of Type 1 is unknown, but thought to be genetic but triggered by some unknown cause(s). Type 1 diabetics are more motivated to control their diabetes because not doing so results in immediate and severe problems, including death.
As the mother of a 14 year old who has lived with Type 1 for over 10 years, I appreciate the fact that the commenters on this page made the distinction where the author of the article did not.
I am happy to report, after dropping 101 pounds, I am now a slim 169 and no longer take any Type 2 diabetes medication. I was on two different pills, and on my weight loss journey I was slowly able to cut down on dosage, then cut out one medication, and then finally cut the second one. My last A1C, after 4 months of no pills, was 5.5.
I don’t appreciate the simple condemation of “eat more than pigs”. Everyone’s story is different. I had years of pain and steroids (cortical for anti-inflammatory) for cervical spine problems with the unhappy side affect of feeling hungry all the time and not being physically able to exercise at all. After three spinal surgeries, and telling the doctor no more steroids, my spinal compression symptoms are gone, I was able to finally exercise again and have control over my appetite. Yes, I myself am the only one responsible for what goes in my mouth, but simple and quick condemations does not help anyone.
One does not have to be a sugar junkie to develop Type II diabetes. I was not one, neither was I much into unrefined carbs. Please don’t oversimplify, there can be many factors, which is not to deny that overeating and under-exercising are prominent ones.
Karen B., I’m interested to hear about the high incidence of Type II diabetes in West Africa. This was true also in India, where many people are vegetarian, but the typical diet is heavy on ghee (clarified butter).
For what it’s worth, a dear aunt of mine passed away recently in her mid-80s, having been Type II for forty years. She ate vegetables and whole grains faithfully and did very well.
It’s important to always remember that while many times there are behaviors which make people more likely to get diseases, there are also ALWAYS people who have these diseases who did nothing to get it. They have a genetic predisposition or a complicating condition or they get it for no reason that anyone can identify. Do not assume that what causes most cases of any disease is what caused it in any particular patient; it may not be so.
Correction to #12 – [i] neither was I much into refined carbs [/i].
In Texas,
Congratulations on the hard work and discipline that I know you needed in order to accomplish what you did. A great story!
The type II diabetic can be a lazy sort, or Sir Steven Redgrave, who alone among athletes has won a gold medal in five straight Olympic Games, in rowing. No lack of activity. Sometimes you pick your parents wrong. For a great number of people however, it isn’t even “refined”, or “bad” foods that get folks. It’s even very healthy food in great availability *and* lack of activity. Calories in greater than out will get you in the end. Diabetes is worth running away from as fast as you can. Just walking some instead of driving everywhere can help alot of people.
ReF #1 and #2,
Let me preface my remarks that my son is a Type I diabetic.
Before one gets sanctimonious about the foods we eat..be it white bread or whole wheat, fruit juice or soda, your body will convert EVERYTHING YOU EAT TO SUGAR! It is only a matter of how fast your body can process and the quantity it processes that is the issue. Some cannot process sugar very easily, others do not. Moderation is the key. It amazes me that school districts in an effort to regulate sugar intake banished sodas from the cafeterias. What was originally Coke at 140 calories/can has now been replaced with fruit juice that is 170 calories/can. The 30 extra calories are blessed because they are Natural…give me a break. The bottom line is that I believe both extremes are bad and it is not helpful to condemn. Maybe the TV writer’s strike will provide some with an impetus to get some excercise or maybe not now that American Idol is back…sigh!
I have many friends with diabetes. It is a terrible condition and takes a daily toll, especially when not well managed. I’ve been praying for years for a cure. Please pray with me!
Thanks LeightonC for the comment about juices. It is not natural to have more than 1-2 ounces of juice per day, unless you happen to live in the tropics. Even in that case, there was historically often a protein deficiency. The juice industry has really done a number on parents. In the old days, you were lucky to get an orange for Christmas-and it was a desert. Truth is, because the orange has pulp fiber and only about 2 oz of actual juice in it, it’s really alot more healthy than the juice that people chug-alug from the bottle.
Consider also the dairy industry. Traditionally, the family cow and the rabbit or venison that dad shot and the grains from the garden provided the protein. They might get a pig in the fall if somebody had raised one. Starch came from potatoes, breads (see grain) and apples, plus whatever other fruits and berries happened to be canned or in season. The cow was a relatively cheap source of much needed calories, precisely because of the milkfat. Veggies came from the garden for fiber.
So, along comes the machine and life becomes less back-breaking. People start to pick up weight because calories in > calories out. Add to this increasing affluance and a culture that equates food with love. Someone realizes that milk has alot of calories. So, then they skim off the fat and leave the rest. Ever heard of lactose deficiency? The truth is, everyone is lactose deficient after age 3. Some folks have symptoms, others don’t. That’s because we don’t need milk when we can eat solid food. Even St. Paul understood this!
The dairy industry tells people that they have to drink milk to get calcium. Well, look at the package and tell me how many cups and calories of milk you have to drink to get the RDA of 1500mg/day! Just take 3 tums a day. Drinking milk straight is now days just a cultural matter. Cooking with it makes more sense.
Human beings are the only “animal” that drinks milk throughout life, and even wierder, we drink another species milk!
I think I’ll go have a bowl of cereal and whole milk (just a few ounces) prior to bed. This is making me hungry.
Cap’n Jack, I think you mean lactose intolerance, not deficiency. I have that, and take a once-a-day pill which allows me to drink milk with my coffee and have milk in food without distress, but I know people who can’t do this with even two of the pills daily. (It’s in the drug store, with the antacids, and it supplies the enzyme which lactose-intolerant people lack.)