In the United States, half of its population suffers from diabetes or prediabetes, many of whom have no idea about it. Are you one of them? In this article, we will discuss this growing phenomenon and its negative impact on health and the economy.
The Experience of Officer Prince Blue
In the summer of 2017, Officer Prince Blue was not feeling well. But he was unaware of the reason. This 34-year-old police officer and father of three was reviewing his routine check-ups with his doctor annually, and his test results were always good.
Blue recalls saying, “I was urinating a lot and feeling dizzy. I was losing weight without exercising, even when I knew I was eating poorly.”
His favorite vacation in Mexico was affected by frequent trips to the bathroom. During an outing to search for a restaurant that he and his wife were looking for, he realized he could no longer read street signs.
Blue, who was previously a human resources specialist in the army and is now studying for a doctorate in criminal justice, says, “Until that moment, it had never crossed my mind that I had diabetes.”
When he returned to his home in North Carolina and was on night patrol, he received a service call and once again realized he couldn’t read street signs. Feeling embarrassed and frightened, he asked a colleague to let him follow his car for the rest of the night and promised he would find out what was happening the next day.
That morning, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a condition where the cells cannot respond normally to insulin. Thanks to the help of an endocrinologist along with insulin and other medications, diet, exercise, and a continuous glucose monitor, he now maintains better control over his blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight. However, he admits that keeping these things in check is a daily struggle.
Despite the improvement in his vision, symptoms of nerve damage, a common complication of diabetes, seem to be permanent.
Blue says, “I can’t even feel my children’s clothing when I try to dress them, and I struggle to tie their shoes. I’ve lost grip strength, and the ability to feel surfaces has vanished. I constantly drop things. Sometimes, everything feels like I’m running my hand over a cheese grater.”
Doctors had warned Blue that his weight, high blood pressure, along with his family history of type 2 diabetes, could mean that the disease was in his future. However, the test results were never explained to him. They didn’t seem painful enough to warrant a diagnosis before 2017 when his blood glucose level skyrocketed to 700 – seven times the safe normal level.
Blue says, “If anyone is to blame, it’s me, because I was constantly told to do these things” like losing weight and controlling blood pressure “but I ignored it until things got worse.”
However, his doctors did not diagnose him with a common condition called prediabetes, where blood glucose levels are elevated but not high enough to warrant a formal diabetes diagnosis.
Blue says, “I just believe they weren’t looking for it.”
An Explosive Problem
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, about 40% of Americans have prediabetes. Regarding diabetes itself, more than 10% of the U.S. population suffers from it – either from type 2, the most common type, or type 1, an autoimmune condition where the body mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells.
In general,
overall, half of the population in the United States suffers from diabetes or prediabetes. Experts say it is turning us into a sickly nation, increasing the infrastructure needs for healthcare, medical personnel, and the cost of healthcare, while affecting the economy in a way that the United States has never seen before in its history.
How did we get here?
It’s no surprise to experts who spoke with Fortune magazine that the United States is facing an obesity epidemic. However, due to the link between obesity and prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, the country is also facing a cardiovascular health crisis.
From 1999 to March 2020, obesity rates in the United States increased by 11% – from 31% to 42% – and the severe obesity rate nearly doubled, reaching 9%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of Americans with diabetes has doubled, from nearly 11 million to 23.4 million.
The situation has been frustrating – and is poised to get worse. In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, disrupting active Americans’ plans to exercise and pushing the country into a mental health crisis.
Dr. Deesha Narang, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine physician at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital in Lake Forest, Illinois, says, “I hear stories all the time about how things were stable, then COVID-19 hit and ‘I gained 50 pounds after that.’ People’s activities changed drastically. The stresses were completely different. Our ways of coping with stress were completely different. People often turn to food in times of stress – all of that combined.”
It’s a permanently changing pattern of American life, with fast food and groceries continuing to be delivered to homes via apps, and daily step counts likely decreasing permanently. Regardless of increased calorie consumption and decreased physical activity, experts believe COVID-19 has led – through inflammation, stress, and cell death during the cytokine storm, or other mechanisms not yet fully understood – to an increase in diabetes diagnoses.
The new cases of type 2 diabetes among young Americans rose by 62% – and type 1 diabetes cases by 17% – after the pandemic began, according to a study published in 2023 in JAMA Network Open. While opinions remain mixed on how and to what extent COVID contributed to diabetes diagnoses, it’s estimated that about 1%-4% of people who contracted the virus were diagnosed with diabetes in the months following acute infection. Given that everyone in the United States has been exposed to COVID at least once, 1% is not a small number – when considering the U.S. population, it exceeds 3 million people.
The devastation that awaits us
It is certain that the diabetes and metabolic diseases crisis will lead to an increase in mortality rates, reduced lifespans, and years of quality life. Prevention must begin early, as diabetes also begins at a young age. While type 2 diabetes has traditionally been considered to develop in those over 45, it is increasingly being diagnosed in teenagers and children, due to the rise in overeating, obesity, and decreased levels of physical activity.
Dr. Nisha Patel, an obesity medicine physician in San Francisco, California, says, “It’s very concerning because the body is exposed to this condition for a longer time. That means more people with more complications at a younger age. The cascading effect it creates is huge. It’s immense what the consequences could be.”
But
There is also an economic cost, according to Patel. Since half of Americans suffer from diabetes or prediabetes, employers face an increasingly sick workforce.
Patel says, “When you look at healthcare costs associated with patients with diabetes, we’re talking about billions of dollars in indirect costs.” This is because those with diabetes are more likely to miss work, leading to lost productivity, which increases healthcare costs that burden both the patient and the employer.
Apart from the economic aspects, the healthcare system in America is unprepared for the influx of diabetic patients, who often come with additional health needs. In addition to a nationwide shortage of hospital beds, the country is also facing a crisis in medical personnel.
Patel asks, “Who will be available to care for these aging and sick patient populations? There are tremendous implications if we can’t tackle this or find solutions for it.”
How to Solve the Problem
When it comes to tackling the diabetes and obesity epidemic, there is no magic solution, experts tell Fortune magazine.
Patel says, “I just don’t see a one-size-fits-all solution. There’s no end I can foresee.”
While malnutrition remains an issue in the United States, the bigger problem is malnutrition, experts emphasize. Strangely, the two issues are often intertwined. A person can experience both malnutrition and obesity if they are unable to find and/or purchase healthy food.
The key to addressing both issues: making nutrient-dense foods – such as fruits, vegetables, plant-based proteins, fish, and low-fat or non-fat dairy products – accessible to everyone. However, about 10% of Americans struggle with food security and many live in food deserts – places that are inaccessible due to proximity or price. In these areas, most available food – at gas stations, dollar stores, and similar outlets – is highly processed and far from fresh.
Even if nutrient-dense foods were widely available – through a food pantry or otherwise – busy Americans struggle to find the time to cook, and sometimes, to know how to do so.
Patel says, “If you give someone a box of vegetables and they have no idea what to do with it, they won’t eat it and they won’t enjoy it.”
Middle- and high-income Americans may not face difficulty accessing nutrient-dense foods. But convenience is often prioritized – often at the expense of nutrition.
Patel says, “This country has more processed foods than any other country in the world.” Patel questions why food manufacturers do not make it easier for ordinary Americans to make healthy choices. “I don’t see widespread efforts,” she says.
The demand for “miracle weight loss drugs” like Wegovy has surged this year, and Narang worries that manufacturers may not be able to keep up with the demand. There are already disparities in who can access the medication. This has resulted in a shortage of the drug among diabetic patients who need it. Furthermore, many people around the world could benefit from this so-called “miracle drug” but lack access due to poverty.
But Narang warns that these drugs are “just another resource for weight loss.” They are not the ultimate solution for diabetes care or even a fix for obesity. Regardless of production and access issues, users of injections like Wegovy must adhere to dietary and exercise regimens for the medication to work. Moreover, they often regain the weight they lost if they stop using it, which could shift the nation from overweight workers to workers permanently reliant on the drug to help maintain their weight.
She says
Narang: “People think this is the next thing from Christ or something like that, and that’s not the case.” “I believe it has been greatly exaggerated on social media. We have been using GLP1 for over a decade.”
While such drugs can be revolutionary in treating diabetes patients, they are “not the long-term solution for permanent weight loss” for those just looking to manage their weight, according to Narang.
The Biggest Obstacle in Tackling Obesity
Perhaps the biggest obstacle in tackling obesity is the belief that it is a moral failure.
Narang says, “We need to see obesity as a chronic disease that deserves long-term treatment just like anything else – like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol and all those things.” “It’s a neurohormonal process that can actually be treated.”
Narang states, “Right now, there is a stigma around weight, that it’s a personal fail, and that needs to change.”
This story was originally published on Fortune.
Source: https://www.aol.com/nearly-half-u-population-diabetes-120000836.html
Leave a Reply