SOUTH FLORIDA – If you combine the victims of breast cancer, AIDS and heart disease they wouldn’t add up to the total of people who will succumb to diabetes. These are numbers that qualify for epidemic status, especially in South Florida where 1 in 3 residents has the disease. The groups that have the highest incidences of diabetes are African American or Caribbean people of African descent and Hispanics. South Florida has a large population of those at risk and 1 in 4 residents do not know that they have diabetes.
Diabetes is the fastest growing and largest epidemic in the United States. Diabetes now plagues 30 million Americans, and another 86 million are on their way to developing type 2 diabetes if critical lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise are not made. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $245 billion which represents 1 in 5 healthcare dollars spent.
The Toll on Health
- People with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized for a heart attack or stroke.
- Diabetes causes nearly 50% of all cases of kidney failure.
- More than half of all amputations in adults occur in people with diabetes.
- More than half a million American adults have advanced diabetic retinopathy, greatly increasing their risk for severe vision loss.
- About 60-70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction and other nerve problems.
“As diabetes-related health care costs rise along with the rapid increase in the number of adults and children with diabetes, it is important for us to work together toward a common solution. We are still a long way off from realizing the severity of this epidemic.” said Jose Basulto, American Diabetes Association Board Member and Vice- Chair Board of Commissioners for Memorial Healthcare System.
American Diabetes Month is a time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. For years the American Diabetes Association has used this month as an opportunity to raise awareness of the disease and its serious complications.
In an effort to combat this epidemic, beginning in November through May 2015, the American Diabetes Association and Nova Southeastern University (NSU) have joined forces with Walgreens, Humana, Novo Nordisk, Urban League, and South Florida Regional Transit to establish an Inter-professional Diabetes Education and Awareness (IDEA) Initiative with the goal of offering free education seminars and other services to the community. The programs are interactive experiences on a variety of topics including exercise, healthy eating, medication management, eye health, screenings, and a general overview of preventing and managing diabetes. Workshops are specifically tailored to meet the needs of adult populations, young children, or adolescents. The public is encouraged to schedule these free education sessions centered on awareness, prevention, and management of diabetes. For information visit www.nova.edu/CHCS/IDEA or email [email protected].
Being screened for diabetes is an important step towards addressing this disease. For free glucose and cholesterol screenings visit any of the following Walgreen’s Pharmacy locations:
3914 W. Commercial Blvd., Tamarac
8790 W. McNab Rd., Tamarac
1201 S. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale
3015 S. University Dr., Davie
1751 Bonaventure Blvd., Weston
13800 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines
19935 N.W. 2nd Ave., Miami
