Health news, tips and features: Healia Health Blog

March 26th, 2008

Education and Prevention are the Best Defenses Against Diabetes

Health News posted 2 years ago by The Healia Team

Since 1987 the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent, while the death rate for heart disease, stroke, and cancer have all declined. As more and more Americans are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, education and prevention, healthy eating, and physical activity should to be at the top of America’s priority list. Here are a few statistics from the American Diabetes Association:

Approximately 4,110 people are diagnosed with diabetes each day in the United States.
An estimated 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, have diabetes.
Of the 20.8 million people with diabetes, an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, but 6.2 million people are not aware that they have the disease.
In 2005, 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people age 20 years or older.
Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States.

Type 2 diabetes is a life-long disease and the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not respond correctly to insulin (a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life).

For information about diabetes, please see the Healia Health Guide: Diabetes. This resource features extensive information on the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Or visit Healia's new health social networking site and talk to members of the Diabetes Community. Still need more information? You can also Ask an Expert a question about diabetes at Healia Communities.

diabetes Type 2 diabetes diabetes prevention