Look at the projected figs of diabetics

Look at the projected number of diabetics for the USA in 2050 !!! Scary or what??

other points may be of interest.
Nick

Vision Loss More Common In People With Diabetes

ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2008) — Visual impairment appears to be more common in people with diabetes than in those without the disease, according to a new report.


Approximately 14.6 million Americans had diagnosed diabetes mellitus in 2005 and another 6.2 million had undiagnosed diabetes, according to background information in the article. It is estimated that the number of individuals with diagnosed diabetes will increase to 48.3 million by 2050. "Diabetic retinopathy [damage to the retina caused by diabetes], one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes, is considered to be one of the major causes of blindness and low vision," the authors write.

Although studies suggest that controlling glucose and blood pressure have reduced the rate of retinal diseases, other ocular conditions suffered by diabetic patients, such as cataract and glaucoma, may increase the risk of visual impairment. Additionally, decreased vision caused by an abnormal shape of the cornea is also common among people with diabetes.

Xinzhi Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2004, which included 1,237 adults with diabetes (average age 59) and 11,767 adults without the disease (average age 45) and also measured their visual acuity before and after optical correction. Participants' vision was tested while they were wearing any glasses or contacts they typically used, and their demographic information was also noted.

An estimated 11 percent of American adults with diabetes had some form of visual impairment (3.8 percent uncorrectable and 7.2 percent correctable), while only 5.9 percent of those without diabetes had some form of visual impairment (1.4 percent uncorrectable and 4.5 percent correctable). "People with diabetes were more likely to have uncorrectable vision impairment than those without diabetes, even after controlling for selected other factors," the authors write. "Our findings also suggest a strong association between visual impairment (correctable and uncorrectable) and older age, member of racial/ethnic minorities, lower income and lack of health insurance, all independent of diabetes status."

"The high prevalence of visual impairment among people with diabetes indicates a need for diverse public health strategies to reduce the burden of both correctable and uncorrectable visual impairment," the authors conclude. "It is important to identify and pursue ways to increase access to eye care for everyone and to correct visual impairment, where possible, to diminish morbidity and mortality due to impaired vision."

It's scary seeing the numbers on paper
Doug always says that his T2 was self-inflicted (bad diet, obesity etc), so I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't fed him so well

It makes me wonder,if in this world of understanding the need for a healthier diet, change of lifestyle etc will affect the predicted figures.
Obviously, our generation (30+), is the real beginning of the change - we are the people that have to teach our children and grandchildren the best way to ensure a healthy future.......I know I'm waaaay beyond help

It would be interesting to look back in 20 years time to see if the predicted course has changed.

Hey Clare,

I thought it was a scary projection too. I am not convinced that we will see a decline in figures no matter what this government or any other country do to try and educate people about diets. We live in a fast food and pre packed culture with all the additives to give taste and colour. Now we have under 10's being diagnosed with Type 2 and classed as morbidly obese!

When I think back to when I was a kid in the 50's and 60's we used to have fried breakfasts and two other cooked meals during the day but I don't remember many of the kids that I was at school with as being overweight etc. Maybe our past is now catching up with us as we have lived through such a rapid progression of 'cultural change'?

I am not sure how you tell kids that Sunny Delight may well be a good precursor to killing them with a chronic disease when so many don't know of anything else and neither do their parents. How do you talk about diabetes risks to people who live on deep fried Mars Bars, battered Pizzas and Iron Bru??

That last was rhetorical

Makes you wonder though doesn't it?

Nick

My kids hate me because Sunny D is banned in our house

Well done you!
Tell 'em you are their saviour!!