According to the American Diabetes Association, about 24 million Americans have diabetes. Pre-diabetes is estimated to affect about 57 million people in our country alone while Obesity is victimizing more than 73 million Americans over the course of 11 years. Obviously, diabetes and Obesity are enormous and common problem.
With the case of Type 2 diabetes, this is believe to affect wide range of other health problems such as cardiovascular issues, nerve damage, eye issues and kidney problem. According to the death certificate reports in 2005, the total death due to this disease is 233,619. The total cost of diabetes is amounting to $174 billion, $116 billion for direct medical costs and $ 58 billion for indirect costs (disability, work loss, premature mortality).
Obesity is also taking $344 billion a year. According to Cynthia Ogden, epidemiologist with the National Center for Health Statistics, the obesity trend appears to be slowing down, but the prevalence remains high and continues to be a critical national health concern. Extra weight increases the risk of heart disease, cancer and Type 2 Diabetes.
In addition, people who are diabetic are hungry all the time because they lack enough amount of insulin in their bodies, which prevent the sugar to be in their proper places within the system, due to this imbalance, their muscles and organs are often low on energy and their body always crave for sweet and often starchy foods.
According to Dr. Clyde Yancy of Baylor University and president of the American Heart Association, diabetics should focus on healthy diets and lifestyle and take tried-and-true medicines to prevent or control health risks and further damage in the body. They have also conducted studies, which was presented last Sunday at an American College of Cardiology conference. They have included people with Type 2 Diabetes and found out that people with this disease increase the chance of having heart attack and stroke than people without it.
For the same purpose, the Columbia University led by Dr. Henry Ginsburg recruited more than 5, 500 diabetics who also had another health risks, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. Participants were given cholesterol-lowering pills and a pill, which lowers the blood fats called triglycerides while boosting the good cholesterol.
After five years, they have seen the lower risks of heart attacks and stroke with the pill that lowers the blood fat.
These studies have clearly showed the undeniable interconnection of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.
If people will abide on the simple guidelines of healthy living and
exercise, the person and even the government who spent billions and
billions of dollars on medical support and healthcare will benefit
tremendously in the decision of each person to do what is good for him
and for his body.