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CONTACT: Stephanie Marquis, 608-266-1683
DIABETES PERSISTS AS MAJOR HEALTH CONCERN IN WISCONSIN
Report Shows Approximately 420,000 Wisconsin Adults
Have Diabetes
MADISON-State health officials are stressing a healthier lifestyle as a new
Department report shows that one in every 10 Wisconsin adults has
diabetes, making the disease a major health concern.
"It's fair to describe the spread of diabetes in Wisconsin as an
epidemic-and it shows no sign of easing," said Secretary Karen
Timberlake. "Nearly 420,000 Wisconsin adults have diabetes and it's
estimated that approximately 125,000 of them don't even know they have the
disease."
According to the Department's 2008 Burden of Diabetes in Wisconsin
report, adult prevalence of diabetes increased more than 27 percent from
329,460 to 419,870 during the past five years. According to the 2008
statistics, the state's ethnic groups bear a disproportionate share of the
burden of diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes in Wisconsin is 1.96 times
higher in Hispanic/Latino Americans, 2.25 times higher in African
Americans and 5.4 times higher in American Indians compared to whites.
The cost of diabetes and its serious complications is staggering. The
direct (medical care) and indirect (lost workdays, restricted activity
days, permanent disabilities and death) costs of diabetes in Wisconsin
adults total an estimated $5.26 billion. Of the $5.26 billion,
approximately:
- $3.46 billion is spent on direct medical expenditures for adults
with diabetes
- $1.73 billion is spent on indirect costs for adults with diabetes
- Approximately $70.5 million is spent on directs costs for children
and adolescents with diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or
properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert the
food we eat into energy needed for daily life. There are two types of
diabetes: "Type 1" occurs when the body has little or no insulin
and therefore insulin is needed to survive. "Type 2" occurs when
the body does not make enough insulin, or it may not be able to use the
insulin as it should. A person with diabetes is at an increased risk of
complications, including blindness, kidney disease, amputations, and heart
disease.
Most people with diabetes have Type 2. Age, being overweight or obese,
and a sedentary lifestyle are three of the risk factors for developing
Type 2 diabetes. A recent United Health Foundation report showed that
nearly 27 percent of Wisconsin's population is now obese, compared to 11
percent in 1990.
Timberlake noted that although Type 1 diabetes is not preventable,
eating a healthy diet and being physically active can help control blood
sugar, which also may prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
"An investment in a healthier lifestyle now can improve the quality
of life for all individuals, and reduce healthcare costs for society at
large," she said.
For more information about diabetes, go to http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/diabetes/
-END-
Last Revised: July 12, 2010
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