Why Should You be Concerned About Diabetes
November is American Diabetes Month. So why should you be concerned about diabetes? Some statistics from the American Diabetes Association might pique your interest.
- Diabetes is the 5th leading cause of death by disease; currently, it’s a disease that has no cure.
- Since 1987, the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent, while the death rates from stroke, cancer, and heart disease have all declined.
- Worldwide, over 246 million people have diabetes. By 2020, that number is expected to rise to 380 million.
- Diabetes is costing our society. In 2002, $92 billion was spent on direct medical costs for diabetes. This means that 1 out of every 10 dollars we spend on health care goes to feed the diabetes beast. The total cost of diabetes to the U.S. each year is estimated to be $132 billion, which includes not only the direct costs but also $40 billion in such indirect costs as disability, work loss, and early death.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults ages 20-74 years.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.
- Men with diabetes are twice as likely to experience erectile dysfunction as men without the disease.
- Adults with diabetes die from heart disease 2 to 4 times more often than adults without diabetes.
With this list of grim statistics about diabetes, however, we must always remember this cause for hope: Diabetes is one of the few serious diseases you can control and actually prevent.