Diabetes And Obesity – Things You Must Know About Diabetes And Obesity

Diabetes and obesity are known as the twin pandemics, because the parallel surges in diabetes and obesity are major causes of death and disability. Public health officials use incendiary language, such as tsunami, scourge, crisis and alarming, to describe the carnage wreaked by these two preventable medical conditions. Diabetes and obesity increase your risk for apnea, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, infertility, premature death and stroke.

Diabetes and obesity in America and the CDCs response…

The coexistence of diabetes and obesity in America has captured the attention of epidemiologists. According to the researchers, poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles spawned these malevolent twins. The two diseases have blazed overlapping swaths of human suffering across the country. Health officials don’t believe that the pattern is coincidental.

The hardest hit regions are in Appalachia and the southern United States. People in these agrarian communities traditionally consumed high calorie diets to support their energy requirements. These areas also have high concentrations of ethnic populations who are genetically predisposed to the conditions. People in the West and Northeast regions can develop diabetes and obesity, but in general are less severely affected.

The diabetes and obesity CDC response is to address the issue with state-based health initiatives. According to the CDC, nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes. The federal government is providing funds to states that want to address this public health issue. The focus of the program is to stop and control obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases by promoting healthy diets and physical activity. Officials want Americans to increase their consumption of vegetables, fruits and to decrease the consumption of empty calories, such as sugary beverages and fast food. The program coordinators are targeting sedentary behaviors by promoting better physical fitness.

Studies link diabetes and obesity together…

The diabetes and obesity link has intrigued clinicians and researchers for many years. Several clinical studies now conclude that obesity can cause insulin resistance and increase your risk for diabetes. The expansion of fat cells in your abdomen causes an inflammatory response and the release of chemical substances. These chemicals set the stage for type 2 diabetes by decreasing insulin sensitivity throughout your body. This form of diabetes is caused by reduced levels of insulin or your cells poor response to available insulin. According to clinicians, obesity is a prevalent risk factor for diabetes. The most important preventative measure is to lose excess weight.

Diabetes and obesity facts reveal the insidious relationship and human tolls of the diseases. Each disease is responsible for its share of morbidity and mortality, but the combination is a lethal tour de force. According to the Surgeon General:

• Gaining more than 10 pounds doubles your risk for diabetes.
• More than 80% of Americans diagnosed with diabetes are also obese or overweight.
• Obesity causes approximately 300,000 fatalities each year.

Current diabetes and obesity research is a collaborative effort between the scientific and clinical communities to translate recent discoveries into effective treatments. The focus of the initiative is the pathogenesis, treatment and care of diabetes.

Effective diabetes and obesity treatment require the cooperation of their victims.