By Staff
WASHINGTON - Describing diabetes as one of the nation's most prevalent, debilitating, deadly and costly diseases, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, Wednesday urged Michigan residents to be vigilant about managing diabetes if they've been diagnosed and to take steps to prevent the disease if they are at risk.
Upton, a member of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, made the comments in recognition of November's National Diabetes Month.
More than 18 million Americans have diabetes - with one-third of those being undiagnosed - and another 41 million are at risk of developing the disease.
Diabetes is the nation's sixth-leading cause of disease-related death and is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, amputation, blindness and kidney disease.
Along with its human toll, diabetes is one of the nation's costliest diseases.
In 2002, one out of every 10 health care dollars was spent on diabetes and its complications, with direct and indirect costs totaling $132 billion.
This includes costs for diabetes care, diabetes-related complications and lost productivity.
Seniors are particularly affected by and at risk for diabetes, as approximately half of all diabetes cases occur in people older than 55 years of age.
Minorities also face an increased risk of developing diabetes: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have estimated that by 2050, one in two minority adults will have the disease.
Other risk factors for all Americans include a family history of diabetes, overweight, lack of regular exercise and low HDL cholesterol or high blood pressure.
Upton highlighted a number of steps people can take if they have or are at risk of developing diabetes, including taking a diabetes risk test, getting early access to quality treatment and patient treatment and making healthy choices like eating right and staying active.
New Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for a one-time thorough review of their health, in addition to education and counseling about preventive services needed.
The exam must be performed within the first six months of Medicare Part B coverage.
Additionally, Medicare provides a free diabetes screening up to two times per year to all individuals 65 or older exhibiting risk factors for diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, folks can call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800 DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org.
Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy.
The association's advocacy efforts include helping to combat discrimination against people with diabetes; advocating for the increase of federal diabetes research and programs; and improved access to, and quality of, health care for people with diabetes.
The association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
Founded in 1940, the association provides service to hundreds of communities across the country.