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November is National Diabetes Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 4, 2015

LAS VEGAS –Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States with approximately 9.8 percent of the population impacted. That translates to about 29.1 million Americans who have diabetes with 8.1 million of them undiagnosed, according to the American Diabetes Association. In Nevada, 9.6 percent of adults have diabetes, according to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS 2013). As part of National Diabetes Month, the Southern Nevada Health District and its community partners continue to offer education, self-management classes, and support for people with diabetes and their families as well as programs that can help people lower their risk of developing diabetes. For information, contact the health district’s Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at (702) 759-1270 or visit the Get Healthy Clark County website www.GetHealthyClarkCounty.org or the Spanish-language site, Viva Saludable www.VivaSaludable.org.

In addition, 86 million Americans age 20 and older are considered to have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are elevated but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. That number is up from 79 million in 2010. People with prediabetes are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes as well as heart disease and having a stroke.

The Southern Nevada Health District has free, online programs that can help with nutritional choices and physical activity for everyone, including people with diabetes. Online programs include the Road to Diabetes Prevention, Nutrition Challenge and Walk Around Nevada. In addition, the health district’s Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion is promoting several tools and events to coincide with National Diabetes Month:

  • Care4life is an evidence-based diabetes self-management program offered to health care providers to refer to their patients. Health care providers who are interested in offering Care4life to patients can call (702) 759-1270 or email gethealthy@snhdmail.org for more information.
  • A World Diabetes Day health fair for the Spanish-speaking community is scheduled, 9 a.m. -12 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Alliance Against Diabetes clinic, 1440 N. Eastern Ave., 89101. Free glucose and blood pressure checks, vision screening, diabetes self-management class information and resources will be available. Contact (702) 759-1270 for additional information.
  • Diabetes self-management tips and resources are available for people with diabetes in both English and Spanish, visit www.GetHealthyClarkCounty.org , www.VivaSaludable.org or call (702) 759-1270.
  • Diabetes prevention classes are provided by the YMCA of Southern Nevada. For information call Breezy Bolden (702) 522-7435, bbolden@lasvegasymca.org.
  • Diabetes prevention and self-management education class information and screenings are provided by Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital for DiaBEATes Day, Saturday, Nov 7. For information, call (702) 616-4900.
  • The Adult Diabetes Education and Management Support Group (ADEMS) meets the second Tuesday of each month, 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m. at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., 89146. The next meeting is Tuesday Nov. 10. For information, call 702-507-3940.
  • Diabetes self management classes are provided by Valley Hospital and Desert Springs Hospitals. For more information, call 702-477-6530 and 702-369-7560, respectively.
  • Statewide resources including events and the toolkits for providers, Prevent Diabetes STAT, can be found at www.nvdiabetesed.org or http://nevadawellness.org/community-wellness/diabetes-education/tools-for-better-patient-outcomes/.

Additional community partners’ activities and events can be found on the Get Healthy Clark County calendar of events: Get Healthy Clark County Community Calendar.

Diabetes self-management is considered a key element to avoid diabetes-related complications. Without appropriate diagnosis and treatment, diabetes is among the leading causes of blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke. According to the Nevada Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Report 2015 issued by Sanofi Aventis and partners, more than one in four (27.3 percent) Type 2 diabetes patients in Nevada were diagnosed with more than two complications from their disease in 2014, higher than the national average (21.4 percent). These patients are also more likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, nerve and/or kidney damage.

Some diabetes facts and statistics based on the 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report:

  • Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
  • Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure (44 percent of new cases in 2011).
  • Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults age 20-74.
  • Between 2009 and 2012, of adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, 65 percent had blood LDL cholesterol greater than or equal to 100 mg/dl or used cholesterol-lowering medications.
  • Between 2009 and 2012, of adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, 71 percent had blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 or used prescription medications to lower high blood pressure.
  • About 60 percent of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people aged 20 or older with diabetes.

Across the country, estimated direct medical costs related to diabetes were $176 billion in 2012. In 2013 in Nevada, the direct medical costs associated with diabetes health care and related treatment in hospitals are estimated to be approximately $204 million annually (The Burden of Chronic Disease in Nevada, 2013). Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of End-Stage Renal Disease in Nevada.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease and is generally seen in adults, although it is diagnosed in children as well. While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, it is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders. In addition, older Americans have an elevated risk of developing the disease. Early detection of the disease allows patients to manage the disease and prevent complications.

Get Healthy Clark County, www.GetHealthyClarkCounty.org and the Spanish-language site, Viva Saludable, www.VivaSaludable.org also offer information about smoking cessation, injury prevention, and resources for a healthier lifestyle. Updated information about the Southern Nevada Health District can be found on Facebook www.facebook.com/SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict, on YouTube: www.youtube.com/SNHealthDistrict or Twitter: www.twitter.com/SNHDinfo. The health district is now available in Spanish on Twitter www.twitter.com/TuSNHD. Don’t have a Twitter account? Follow the health district on your phone by texting “follow SNHDinfo” to 40404.

 

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2018-09-21T18:52:03-07:00
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