​Focus on Diabetes

Diabetes Month, is observed each November to bring attention to diabetes and its impact on millions of Americans.
World Diabetes Day is observed annually on November 14th to promote the importance of taking coordinated and concerted actions
to confront diabetes as a critical global health issue. 

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. Diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature death, but people with diabetes can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications.

Types of Diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes: insulin dependent. Its risk factors are autoimmune, genetic, or environmental. Type 1 diabetes accounts for only about 5% of all diabetes cases.

Type 2 diabetes: occurs as a result of the body not utilizing insulin properly. It is usually noninsulin dependent and accounts for more than 90% of diabetes cases. Risk factors for these are: older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. Type 2 diabetes is now being diagnosed in children and adolescents due to increasing incidence of obesity in children.

Gestational Diabetes: high level of blood sugar occurring during pregnancy. Risk factors are: race/ethnicity, obesity, family history of diabetes.

Pre-diabetes: a condition where the blood glucose level is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered type 2. Such people are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

How many Americans have diabetes and pre-diabetes?

• 25.8 million Americans have diabetes — 8.3 percent of the U.S. population. Of these, 7 million do not know they have the disease
• In 2010, about 1.9 million people ages 20 or older were diagnosed with diabetes
• The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has risen from 1.5 million in 1958 to 18.8 million in 2010, an increase of epidemic proportions
• It is estimated that 79 million adults aged 20 and older have pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Studies have shown that by losing weight and increasing physical activity people can prevent or delay pre-diabetes from progressing to diabetes
  

Kane County Diabetes Collaborative - Diabetes Education Centers:

Advocate Sherman Hospital
Northwestern Medicine/Delnor Hospital
Presence Mercy Medical Center
Presence St. Joseph Hospital
Rush-Copley Medical Center
VNA Health Care

Have a question or need more information? Email askus@co.kane.il.us and one of our diabetes professionals will respond to your inquiry

Resources

American Diabetes Association
Diabetes   CDC
Diabetes Guide - Facts    KCHD
National Diabetes Education Program - NDEP
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse   NIH

For Healthcare Professionals:

Diabetes Prevention and Lifelong Management
Redesigning the Health Care Team publication NIH & CDC

This publication provides the following:

• an overview of the evidence that supports team care as a component of effective diabetes management
• practical information to help health care professionals and oganizations incorporate team care into practice in a variety of settings
• steps for forming and maintaining a successful team
• eight case studies that demonstrate real-world team care in everal different settings
  

Diabetes Numbers At A Glance
Guiding Principles of Diabetes Care
Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel