Diabetes is a serious disease that affects how the body uses glucose, the main type of sugar in the blood. Glucose comes from the foods people eat and is the major source of energy needed to fuel the body's functions. It is a metabolic disease requiring medical diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes.

The three major categories of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications from high glucose levels, including blindness, kidney disease, and nerve damage, as well as vascular disease that can lead to amputations, heart disease, and stroke. Gestational diabetes is temporary, only lasting through pregnancy, however gestational diabetes places a woman at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes at some later time in her life.

Pre-diabetes describes an increasingly common condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough to be considered diabetes. Research supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has shown that most people with this condition go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years unless they make changes in their diet and level of physical activity, which can help them reduce their risks and avoid the debilitating disease. Prediabetes Facts

As of 2011, the CDC estimates that about 8.3% of the U.S. population or 25.8 million people have diabetes. Of those cases, 18.8 million people have been diagnosed and another 7.0 million people with diabetes have not yet been diagnosed. It is further estimated that 35% of U.S. adults aged 20 years or older have prediabetes. 2011 Factsheet

Diabetes is Idaho

As reported in the Diabetes in Idaho – 2009" BRFSS report, almost 90,000 adults have diabetes; this to 10% of the population. Additionally, 5.3% of people in Idaho have prediabetes. Adults with diabetes are more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. They are also at greater risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack.
State-Specific Incidence of Diabetes Among Adults
Diabetes in Idaho - 2009
Idaho Diabetes Prevention & Control Program
CDC Diabetes Data & Trends Idaho Surveillance Data

Who is at Risk

• Older that 45 years
• Overweight or obese
• Lack of physical activity
• History of gestational diabetes, or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 lbs at birth
• Family history of diabetes
• Body shape (pear vs. apple)
• Over nutrition, especially fats and processed foods
• Excess calories

Are You at Risk

Take the Diabetes Risk Test to know for sure:
National Diabetes Education Program Diabetes Risk Factors
American Diabetes Association Diabetes Risk Test

Who is Affected?

• 25.8 million Nationally or 8.3% of the population
• 18.8 million diagnosed
• 7.0 million undiagnosed
• Diagnosed and undiagnosed by age and gender
• Age 20 and older is 25.6 million or 11.3% of all people in this age group.
• Age 65 and older is 10.9 million or 26.9% of all people in this age group.
• Men is 13.0 million or 11.8% of all men aged 20 years or older.
• Women is 12.6 million or 10.8% of all women ages 20 years or older.
• Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in Idaho and nationally
  National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2007
  2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet
  Maps of Trends in Diabetes and Obesity
  Diabetes Data & Trends

4 Steps to Control Your Diabetes. For Life

1. Learn About Diabetes
• Ask your health care provider if you have Type 1, Type 2, or Gestational.
2. Know your diabetes ABCs
• Talk to your health care team about how to manage your A1c, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol
• A1c levels should be below 7 for most people.
• Blood pressure goals for people with diabetes is 130/80
• LDL Cholesterol for people with diabetes is below 100
• HDL Cholesterol for men is greater than 40
• HDL Cholesterol for women is great than 50
3. Manage your diabetes
• Follow your diabetes meal plan
• Eat healthy foods
• Keep fish and lean meat and poultry portions to about 3 ounces
• Eat foods that have less fat and salt
• Eat food with more fiber
• Get 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week
• Stay at a healthy weight
• Ask for help if you feel down
• Learn to cope with stress
• Stop smoking
• Take medicines even when you feel good
• Check your feet every day
• Brush and floss every day
• Check your blood glucose as directed by your health care provider
• Check your blood pressure as directed by your health care provider
• Report any changes in your eyesight
4. Get routine care to avoid problems
• At each visit be sure you have a:
• Blood pressure check
• Foot check
• Weight check
• Review if your self-care plan
• At least two time each year have an A1c test
• Once each year have a:
• Cholesterol test
• Triglyceride test
• Complete foot exam
• Dental exam – tell your dentist you have diabetes
• Dilated eye exam
• Flu shot
• Check for kidney problems
• National Diabetes Education Program - 4 Steps to Control Your Diabetes. For Life

Idaho Diabetes Prevention and Control Program

The Idaho Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, IDPCP, strives to promote clinical standards of care, reaching disparate population, promote wellness linkages, and reduce the risk of diabetes. This is done through four objectives:

• Coalition/Partnership Development
• Professional Education
• Foot Exams, Risk Assessment, and Professional Training
• Increasing dilated eye exams to prevent diabetic eye disease
• Promoting clinical standard of care