Diabetes: A growing problem in North Idaho

Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes and 90,000 of them live in Idaho. Another 79 million Americans have blood glucose (sugar) levels higher than normal and are considered pre-diabetic. More than 80,000 of them live in Idaho.

Nearly one-third of them have no idea their blood glucose levels are putting them at risk for nerve damage, blindness, kidney failure, amputation and heart disease.

"We're seeing more Type 2 diabetes all the time," says Kristen Herron, health educator for the Panhandle Health District. "It's dangerous and it's preventable."

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. It comes in two forms. Type 1 is hereditary and caused by the pancreas not making insulin. Type 1 is controlled with insulin from a shot or pump. Five percent of adults diagnosed with diabetes have Type 1.

Type 2 develops when blood glucose builds up in the body over time. The pancreas makes insulin. Insulin works to bring blood glucose into the cells for energy. Diabetes occurs when insulin doesn't work correctly. Cells stop absorbing blood glucose and it builds up in the body.

People at the highest risk for Type 2 diabetes are obese, have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, are older than 45, developed diabetes while they were pregnant, are not physically active and/or are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Asian American.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of African American and Hispanic women will develop type 2 diabetes during their adult years.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults between the ages of 20 and 74. The risk for a stroke is two to four times higher in people with diabetes. Diabetes is also the leading cause of kidney failure and the second highest reason after accidents for leg and foot amputations.

Here's the good news: Type 2 diabetes is preventable and reversible. Studies have shown that a healthy diet, regular exercise, loss of excess weight and, sometimes, medication can bring blood sugar under control.

"If you watch 'The Biggest Loser,' the participants talk about getting off their blood pressure medication and diabetes medication from losing all that weight," Herron says.

University of Idaho Extension offers a free four-week course called Healthy Eating with Diabetes. The class provides menus and recipe tips for people with diabetes, as well as information pertaining to diabetes-related complications and guidelines for a visit with the doctor. It teaches participants how to read grocery labels in order to develop better eating habits. PHD's Herron coordinates a "clinic" class which includes measurements of height, weight and blood pressure, and foot exams. For information on the class, call Shelly Johnson at 446-1688 or e-mail her at sjohnson@uidaho.edu.

To reduce the number of overweight children, PHD started a chapter of Action for Healthy Kids. Healthy Kids is a national movement sponsored by the NFL and the National Dairy Council that works through the schools to increase physical activity and nutrition opportunities and education for kids.

Herron coordinates the local team, a small group of school nurses, teachers and community partners. The team is open to parents and anyone interested in fighting child obesity. Herron's team plans to link kids with training and nutrition programs that will prepare them for a kids' triathlon this summer.

The team also needs parents to serve as advisers to student groups that want to incorporate healthy activities into the school day, for example relay races as part of an assembly. For information on Action for Healthy Kids, call Herron at 415-5140 or e-mail her at kherron@phd1.idaho.gov.

March 22 is Diabetes Alert Day. How much do you know about diabetes? Find out by picking up a one-page Diabetes Risk Test at your doctor's office, health club or pharmacy that week. The test will give people an idea of their diabetic status and encourage them to speak with their doctor about the results.

For information on diabetes, visit www.phd1.idaho.gov.

Cynthia Taggart is the public information officer for the Panhandle Health District. She can be reached at ctaggart@phd1.idaho.gov.