Diabetes, according to the CDC, is the #7 killer in the U.S. and one of the leading causes of high insurance costs for companies across the nation. The statistics are staggering on how one disease is affecting our health care system and our overall health. The main cause of diabetes is obesity and being overweight.
Diabetes Is Killing Our Nation
- Currently, 65% of US adults age 20 years and older are overweight and 31% are obese.
- Being overweight dramatically increases the likelihood of having at least 1 chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes.
- 1 out of 3 babies born in 2000 will develop diabetes.
- If trends continue, we may see the first generation that will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
Every day in the United States, diabetes causes an
estimated:
- 225 amputations.
- 117 people to start therapy for end-stage kidney disease.
- 33 to 66 people to lose their eyesight.
During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic
increase in obesity in the United States:
- Today, more than 66% of adults are either overweight or obese.
- This trend is expected to increase as our nation grows older and larger.
- As the number of obese Americans increases, so does their risk for chronic diseases like diabetes.
The statistics on how our healthcare system is overloaded with the costs of obesity and diabetes is staggering:
Diabetes Is Killing Our Healthcare System
Diabetes is debilitating to our health and economy:
- Diabetes is a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.
- This chronic disease costs our healthcare system $174 billion per year.
- Roughly $116 billion go toward direct medical costs such as care and treatment.
- About $58 billion is due to indirect costs such as lost days at work and disability.
- In America, our healthcare system benefits from treating the many complications of chronic diseases like diabetes—not from controlling them.
- The human cost of an amputation is traumatic. It is also expensive. Such a procedure can cost more than $30,000.
- Insurers tend to cover costly procedures like amputations.
- Insurers are less likely to pay $150 for a visit to the podiatrist. This visit could prevent foot–related ailments of diabetes.
It is not uncommon for people with diabetes to experience
problems getting services reimbursed that help manage their
disease. An example is nutritional counseling. This service
might cost as little as $75. Insurers will cover more serious
complications of the disease, such as $315 for a single
dialysis session.
I wanted to post these statistics to show how much we put into REACTIVE services-the services we pay for when we get sick, opposed to PREVENTATIVE services that we should invest into so we aren't stuck with high health costs.
The irony to the blog is that I am posting it on Halloween, one of the leading 'candy-eating' days during the year. The sugar spike that comes with eating all of that candy can be detrimental to many who aren't aware that they have the disease. Everything in moderation is a good rule-of-thumb when Halloween candy is available to munch on.
I wish I knew more about this when my father was diagnosed with Diabetes. It has been an ugly disease to work with and it affects his every day living. If posting this blog can help one person to help in prevention to themselves or someone they love, then it is worth it the time writing it.
