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Type 2 diabetes relates to obesity, dietary issues, and a sedentary lifestyle. These factors account for 90%–95% of diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes in the U.S. Estimates are that these factors affected almost 26 million or 8.3% of the U.S. population in 2010. In 2010, about 1.9 million new cases were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older. Another 79 million people have prediabetes, up from 57 million in 2005. Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2005, contributing 233,619 deaths.1 Since then, type 2 diabetes is on the rise and it looks like there is no stopping it. How Does Type 2 Diabetes Manifest? As a normal function of the body, carbohydrates are broken down from what we eat into sugars and starches, then into glucose, which is absorbed in the bloodstream. Insulin releases from the pancreas to move the glucose from the bloodstream into body cells, supplying energy to our body. When our body cells are unhealthy due to our diet, they do not respond well to the insulin, and we can develop insulin resistance. When this happens, the pancreas releases more insulin to keep up with excess glucose in the bloodstream. This causes risk factors that are more serious: metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome describes someone with three or more of the following risks: extra weight around the middle of the body, occurring in men with more than 40 inches and women with more than 35 inches elevated blood pressure high fasting blood sugar low HDL cholesterol high triglycerides(2) Disease is only part of the problem. Health care costs are skyrocketing out of control. Many of us do not think about how much it would cost for open-heart surgery, cancer surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or medications because we have insurance to pay for these costs. But many others cannot afford insurance for one reason or another. So who is paying for their health care costs? WE ARE, and the amounts are alarming. Health Costs for Diabetes In the U.S. during 2007, total costs for those with diabetes were $174 billion. Direct medical costs were $116 billion and indirect costs (related to disability, work loss, premature death) were $58 billion.3 These costs do not look good! National Health Costs for All Diseases In 2008 health care costs in the United States totaled almost $2.0 trillion, a 4.4% increase from the previous year. Also that year, 47% of government funds were paid to Medicare and Medicaid.4 In 2009 health care costs totaled $2.5 trillion. The government is spending our tax dollars paying for our health care needs. We are paying for these “out of control” insurance costs and public funding. Do we want to pay more taxes and insurance costs for health care? Do we think the government will stop this cycle of poor health and spiraling health care costs? Health care costs as well as chronic diseases are on the rise. It is not about to stop unless we look at the cause of diseases that result in early death. Jane Falke’s work is devoted to a healthy and natural diet and lifestyle. Give your body the nutrients needed to give you the energy to sustain your life, stave off disease, and slow down the aging process. To help you with your nutritional goals toward better health, she would like to share this Guide with you completely free! Discover What Food Labels Don’t Tell You! Visit www.janefalke.com. While there you may also read articles, find recipes, contact me for nutritional coaching and read a Free Chapter of Eat Healthy. Be Healthy at Any Age!
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