KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - The rise in the rate of diabetes has been called a diabetes epidemic by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), with an estimated 21 million people in the United States living with diabetes today, one-third of whom are undiagnosed. To highlight local prevention efforts, King County Executive Ron Sims is proclaiming World Diabetes Day, November 14, as Diabetes Day in King County.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in King County. Diabetes prevalence rose from 2.7% in 1995 -1997 to 5.2% during 2002-2004. Diabetes disproportionately affects certain ethnic groups, such as African Americans and American Indians/Alaska Natives, and low-income populations.

“Current statistics for diabetes and its health complications are grim, yet the possibilities for preventing and controlling this growing epidemic are within reach,” said Dorothy Teeter, Interim Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “Early diagnosis, improved nutrition and more physical activity can lead to improved prevention and management of diabetes.”

“Diabesity”

Adding to the risk factors contributing to the development of diabetes is the unprecedented numbers of overweight adults and children.  Nationally, currently 60 million adults, or 30%, are obese, in addition to 9 million children, or 16%.  Due to the close link between obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes, this dual epidemic has been named “diabesity” by some health professionals. In the last two decades, type 2 diabetes (formerly known as adult-onset diabetes) has been reported among U.S. children and adolescents with increasing frequency.

Diabetes is a serious and costly disease.  Complications of diabetes include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke and lower extremity amputations.  The total U.S. annual economic cost of diabetes in 2002 was estimated to be $132 billion, or one out of every 10 health care dollars spent in the United States.

While diabetes can strike anyone, those at higher risk are certain racial and ethnic groups including African Americans, American Indian/Native Alaskans, Asian, Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latino communities. 

Diabetes prevention and control

Awareness of the risk factors for, and symptoms of, diabetes is an important step towards its prevention and control.

If persons can answer “yes” to any of the following questions, she or he may have a higher risk of developing diabetes, and should talk to a health care provider about being tested.

• Is there a family history of diabetes?
• Blood pressure at or above 130/85?
• Is the person African-American, American Indian/Native Alaskan, Asian, Hispanic/Latino or Pacific Islander?
• Did the person have diabetes during pregnancy?
• Did the baby weigh more than 9 pounds at birth?
• Is the person overweight?
• Is the individual under 65 years of age and get little or no exercise?
• Is the person 65 years of age or older?

Since 1999, a coalition of King County community organizations, coordinated by Public Health - Seattle & King County, has developed community-based strategies for improving early diagnosis and management of diabetes among racial and ethnic minority populations.  The REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) 2010 Coalition has worked strategically with community agencies including the Center for Multi-cultural Health, International Community Health Services, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, City of Seattle Aging & Disability Services and Harborview Medical Center.  Classes are provided in diabetes education, self-management and support groups; they have been presented in eight different languages, with cultural relevance assured through bilingual and bicultural staff, interpreters and materials.

While the number of individuals affected by diabetes continues to climb, systems-wide community effort such as the REACH 2010 Coalition are key in curbing this epidemic.  For more information on the REACH 2010 Coalition, its activities and the warning signs for diabetes, please visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/reach.

The World Health Organization has made November 14 World Diabetes Day. An estimated 170 million people have diabetes worldwide.

Note to editors and reporters: REACH 2010 Coalition press kits are available by request.

To view this news release in Spanish, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/espanol/05111001.htm

Public Health – Seattle & King County is among the largest metropolitan health departments in the country, providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services that achieve and sustain safer and healthier communities for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County . Answering the needs of an increasingly diverse population, Public Health - Seattle & King County touches people's lives every day through health promotion and prevention activities, disease surveillance, health care, outreach and referral services, environmental health services, emergency medical care, jail health services, and readiness and response to public health emergencies.

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