Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County Ranks High In Diabetes Incidents

Diabetes affects about 6 percent of all Americans.

This disease can be fatal if not properly treated. Diabetes can also cause other serious health problems.

Because of the rising number of people with diabetes, Candace Carrie', with the University of Arkansas Extension Office in Prescott, along with the Extension Homemaker's Clubs and Arkansas Beef Council, held a four-part diabetes cooking school at the First United Methodist Church.

Carrie' said Nevada County ranks above the national average on deaths from diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The cooking class was designed to help provide information on a healthier lifestyle for area residents.

The classes covered information on what diabetes is and how it can be treated. Those attending also learned about making main dishes, side dishes and (best of all) desserts without using the typical fats and sugars found in most Southern cooking.

The recipes called for lower fat and sodium.

In Arkansas, Carrie' said, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death.

A study, done by UAMS with help from the Heartwatch Organization, covered three Southwest Arkansas counties Hempstead, Lafayette and Nevada.

The results showed these areas to have the highest rates of diabetes in the state.

According to Carrie' these areas also have a large number of minorities, underinsured people and medically underserved people

Additionally, many people with diabetes don't know they have the disease until it has progressed into its more severe stages.

There are several complications with diabetes, she said. First, it is connected to heart problems and can lead to amputation due to poor circulation in the extremities. It can also cause blindness and kidney failure.

Part of the problem, she said, is people today aren't getting enough exercise. We, as a population, also tend to eat too much and eat the wrong things. The poor choice of foods we eat causes many to be overweight.

The heavier a person is, the less effective the insulin produced by their bodies is.

For children, diabetes is normally caused by a defective pancreas.

According to information from the U.S. Department of Health, some 15.7 million Americans have diabetes. Of this, 10.3 million have been diagnosed, while 5.4 million have not.

The disease is progressing at the rate of 798,000 new cases annually.

Studies show the death rate to be twice as high among middle age people with diabetes, when compared to people in the same age group who don't have the disease.

In 1995, diabetes contributed to 187,800 deaths in the nation, making it the seventh leading cause of death.

According to the Department of Health, 8.1 million women and 7.5 million men have diabetes nationwide.

The disease can also increase a person's risk of having a stroke. Those with diabetes can also suffer from mild to severe forms of damage to their nervous system. This can include impaired sensation or pain in the hands and feet, slowed digestion of food and carpal tunnel syndrome.

It can also lead to periodontal disease in some, while causing complications in pregnancies for women.

Nationally, $92 billion was spent on medical costs treating diabetes and its complications in 1992.

Being diagnosed for diabetes is relatively simple. Many doctors today take a blood sample and test the glucose (sugar) level in it. Depending on the results, and other symptoms, if any, a diagnosis can be quickly made.

Treatment is also fairly easy. Those diagnosed will be placed on a carefully calculated diet, with an exercise program developed as well.

Diabetes can sometimes be controlled by diet and exercise alone. However, there are some cases where the patient will require an oral medication to help correct their insulin problem

And, there are those who must give themselves daily injections of insulin, while also testing their blood sugars each day.

Diabetes is treatable and those diagnosed can live full and productive lives by following doctor's orders, eating sensibly and exercising regularly.