| Show i Diabetic Sufferers l el S Show Increase Is diabetes the disorder that diet exercise and insulin or pills control in danger itself of getting out of control At the moment there does not seem to be an answer to this question but some alarming statistics illustrate the dramatic dramatic dra dra- matic increase in the prevalence prevalence prevalence alence of diabetes IN THE TIlE LAST two decades the number of diabetics in the United States has about doubled to an estimated persons per per- sons And for several logical reasons this geometric rise will continue in the future Today diabetes ranks seventh among the causes of death by disease in this country Yet paradoxically most diabetics eventually die of some other complication such as heart disease cerebral hemorrhage or kidney disease Thus the influence of diabetes on mor mor- rates is by far more pervasive than the official figures indicate And because there is no known cure for forthe forthe the UlC condition this influence will be stronger in the years to come WIlY WHY THE TIlE answer to this question can be summarized in five key words age population population population lation heredity obesity and detection People are living longer today on the average than they did a generation or two ago An And it is the older person person person per per- son who is particularly prone to diabetes While it il is true that the disorder can occur at a very early age four out of five diabetics are over 45 when they develop the dis dis- dis- dis order Older women are especially susceptible Between Between Be Be- tween the ages of 55 and 64 the me diabetic rate among women women women wom wom- en is twice as high as among men IN 1950 about ISO million persons lived in the United States Today the population population population tion is more than mil mil- lion The American Diabetes Association estimates that one person in twenty is an actual an unknown or a potential diabetic Diabetes is known to run in families Most diabetics have had at least one blood relative ve who was a diabetic If both parents have diabetes diabetes diabetes dia dia- dia- dia betes the chances are that all children will develop diabetes at some time if they livelong live livelong livelong long enough IN ADDITION the Association Association Association estimates that some 50 SO million Americans one in four ur ar are carriers of diabetes dia- dia diabetes ia- ia betes transmit they may the disorder to offspring without without without with with- out developing the condition themselves Today more people are eating eating eating eat eat- ing richer foods than at anytime anytime any anytime time in history The richer a nations nation's diet the greater the trend to obesity and there isa is isa isa a close relationship between diabetes and obesity More than eight out of ten en adults who develop diabetes are overweight before t their ir condition condition cop con con- develops A PLANNED diet leading leading to weight reduction is usually the first step prescribed by bya a physician who is treating an overweight newly diagnosed diagnosed diagnosed nosed diabetic THOSE WHO benefit most from detection tests are are the mild diabetics who have the disorder but dont don't yet know about it There are more than of these hidden hidden hidden hid den diabetics in this country To help these people the American Diabetes Association Association Association together with Affiliate Associations and Medical Societies Societies So So- Societies sponsors annu annual l. l Diabetes Detection Drives Each year-long year Drive begins with Diabetes Week Nov 16 22 16 22 this year EVERYONE in the community community community is urged to take the test Those who are over 40 weigh more than they should and have havea a family history of diabetes diabetes diabetes dia dia- dia- dia betes are especially urged to tobe tobe tobe be tested |
