July 2008
Volume 4, Issue 7
 

2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet: Number of Americans with Diabetes Continues to Increase

Nearly 24 million Americans – almost 8 percent of the population – are now living with diabetes, according to the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, which was released in late June. The 24 million Americans include nearly 6 million people who are undiagnosed. An additional 57 million Americans aged 20 and older have pre-diabetes, a condition that increases a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The fact sheet also indicates that the prevalence of diabetes in ethnic minority populations continues to rise, heightening concerns about health disparities among these populations. Compared to non-Hispanic whites, diabetes continues to be more prevalent among African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders.

The new fact sheet includes an updated section on treating diabetes for health care professionals and diabetes educators, which emphasizes that people with diabetes can lower their risk for developing serious complications by controlling blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids. Self-management education or training is highlighted as a key step in improving health outcomes and quality of life for people with diabetes. This section indicates that many people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose by following a healthy meal plan and physical activity program, losing excess weight, and taking medications if necessary. Some people may need insulin for controlling their blood glucose. Many people with diabetes also need to take medications to control their cholesterol and blood pressure.

Another addition to the new fact sheet includes prevalence rates for pre-diabetes by race. For example, among adults aged 20 and older, more than 21 percent of African Americans, more than 25 percent of non-Hispanic whites, and more than 26 percent of Mexican Americans have pre-diabetes. Regarding diagnosed diabetes, the fact sheet also includes a new number for the prevalence of diabetes among Asian Americans aged 20 or older – nearly 8 percent. Additionally, among adults, diabetes increased in both men and women and in all age groups. However, diabetes still disproportionately affects the elderly. In 2007, almost 25 percent of the population aged 60 years and older had diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious, common, and costly, yet controllable and preventable disease. NDEP has free resources on diabetes control and prevention for people with diabetes and their families, those at risk, and health care professionals. Materials are available in 15 Asian and Pacific Islander languages and Spanish. To download or order free materials, visit NDEP’s website, www.YourDiabetesInfo.org, or call 1-888-693-NDEP (6337). Together, we can change the way diabetes is treated.

The 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet can be downloaded by visiting www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics.

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Diabetes & CVD: Clinical Practice Implications of ADVANCE, ACCORD & VA Trials†

The topic of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD)* and whether or not an A1C goal of less than 7 is still appropriate for people with diabetes has recently been in the news, and even more so after last month’s American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 68th Annual Scientific Sessions. During the ADA meeting, the findings of Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease (ADVANCE), Action to Control Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) and the Veteran Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT) were reported and a panel of diabetes experts discussed the implications of each study.

The panel agreed that the studies found no benefit on heart disease risk from intensively lowering blood glucose levels below currently recommended guidelines in people with advanced type 2 diabetes. Keeping blood glucose levels at or near the recommended ADA target* has other benefits – particularly on reducing damage to the small vessels that cause kidney disease and eye damage.

“One of our messages needs to be that treating diabetes is a comprehensive treatment strategy that involves blood pressure, lipid control, and aspirin therapy,” said M. Sue Kirkman, M.D., ADA’s vice president for clinical affairs. “The ABCs of diabetes care – management of A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol – still apply. We have always talked about the individuality of glucose goals. Some may be candidates for lower goals, and some are candidates for higher [goals],” she said.

Strong clinical trial evidence exists, especially for treatment of hypertension and high cholesterol, that good control of known CVD risk factors reduces CVD events in people with diabetes. In addition, the ACCORD trial is still investigating the benefits of further lowering blood pressure and treating other lipid abnormalities common in people with diabetes. These results should be available in late 2009.

Rury Holman, M.D. of Oxford University and a member of ADA’s panel of diabetes experts noted that these and other studies suggest that treating diabetes early is more effective and safer than starting treatment after the disease has progressed. “The message the community needs to receive is that the guideline goals are still the same, but might be flexible in people with advanced disease,” he said.

ADA will continue to explore the findings of each study and their implications. Currently, NDEP materials and messages, which call for “less than 7 percent for people with diabetes in general” and “individualized target levels,” are appropriate and we encourage you to move forward with them. NDEP will track this progress and share the findings in future issues of News & Notes.

†Adapted from ADA’s online coverage of the 2008 meeting.

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NIH Study: Hearing Loss is Common in People with Diabetes

Hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Researchers discovered the higher rate of hearing loss after analyzing the results of hearing tests given to a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. NDEP encourages health care professionals to consider these findings when treating people with diabetes. To read the NIH-issued press release in its entirety, visit NIH’s website.

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CDC Web Board Offers Diabetes Community Health Workers Training on NDEP Community Resources

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a free Web board, which offers diabetes community health workers (CHWs) and promotores de salud the opportunity to exchange ideas, questions, and information regarding the management and prevention of type 2 diabetes. Items such as meeting announcements, conferences, publications, educational opportunities, and new tools are examples of the type of information that can be posted to the Web board.

The Web board will also serve as a resource for training and gathering information on NDEP’scommunity toolkits and other information posted by NDEP regarding type 2 diabetes prevention.

We invite you to share this information with your fellow CHWs, promotores de salud, and your network of partner organizations. This is a great opportunity to partner with NDEP, other CHWs, and promotores de salud to enhance your diabetes programs and initiatives and prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in your community.

To sign up for the Web board, send an e-mail to DiabetesWebBoard@cdc.gov and include your name, email address, telephone number, and organization. In the subject line of the email, include the following message: Request to Join the Diabetes CHW Web Board.

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New & Updated Resources from NDEP!

4 Pasos para controlar la diabetes de por vida
An easy-to-read resource for people with diabetes, this booklet is the Spanish version of the 4 Steps to Control Your Diabetes. For Life. brochure and helps people with diabetes understand vital self-care principles. Written for newly diagnosed people with diabetes as well as those living with diabetes for years, the four steps empower them to be active partners in their own care, take steps to stay healthy, and to understand, monitor, and manage their diabetes.

Get Real! You Don’t Have to Knock Yourself Out to Prevent Diabetes
This newly revised resource offers tips to help all Americans at risk for type 2 diabetes move more and eat less to lose weight and lower their risk for type 2 diabetes.

We Have the Power to Prevent Diabetes
This newly revised resource offers tips to help American Indians and Alaska Natives prevent type 2 diabetes by losing weight through being more physically active and making healthy food choices.

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NDEP Promotes “Eat Fruits & Veggies to Lose Weight & Lower Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes” in July

People with a family history of diabetes or those who have been told by a health care professional that they are at risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing at least 5 to 7 percent of their body weight – that’s 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person. To lose weight safely, people at risk for diabetes need to make healthy food choices, like eating more fruits and vegetables, and being physically active for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

NDEP is currently promoting a new feature article entitled, “Eat Fruits & Veggies to Lose Weight & Lower Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes”* to general print and online publications through the Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. campaign. The article highlights easy, inexpensive ways for people to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat and encourages them to take small steps toward losing weight and lowering their diabetes risk. For more ways to prevent type 2 diabetes, check out NDEP’s Small Steps. Big Rewards. Your GAME PLAN to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Information for Patients*.

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Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming NDEP Promotions

In August, NDEP will promote a new feature article entitled, “Get Your Students to Move It: Schools Can Help Lower the Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in Youth” (attached*) highlighting the Move It! And Reduce Your Risk for Diabetes School Kit to American Indian and Alaska Native print and online media and school personnel. The article will include information about thekit’s contents, positive feedback from school personnel and students who have adapted the kit, and ideas for how school personnel and students can incorporate the kit into school activities. For more information about lowering the risk for diabetes in children and adolescents, check out NDEP’s Tips for Teens: Lower Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes tip sheet.

NDEP will also promote Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel* in August, a comprehensive guide designed to empower school personnel, parents, and students to create a safe learning environment and equal access to educational opportunities for all children with diabetes. To learn more, check out NDEP’s free resources on diabetes in children and adolescents.

In September, NDEP will promote a feature article for women who have had gestational diabetes to general print and online publications. The article will emphasize that both the mother and her children have a lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Additionally, tips will be provided to help women and their families stay healthy and reduce their risk for developing type 2 diabetes. For more information about the risk of developing type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes, visit the NDEP website.

In each issue of News & Notes look for NDEP promotional tools that are ready for you to personalize, customize, and distribute.

y using our promotional tools, everybody wins. Your community newspaper receives a story with important health information for its readers, your organization receives good publicity, and you help NDEP continue to be the nation’s No. 1 resource for free information and materials on diabetes control and prevention. Each issue of News & Notes features tools that tie into the following month’s promotions and can help us promote NDEP together.

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On the Road with NDEP

NDEP will exhibit at these upcoming conferences:

  • American Dietetic Association
    Oct 25-28, 2008; Chicago, IL
    Joanne Gallivan, M.S., R.D. will receive the American Dietetic Association’s Excellence in Community Dietetics Award here during a session entitled, “The Diabetes Pandemic: The Role of the Dietitian” on October 27, at 3 p.m.

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* PDF files require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application for viewing.