Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how the body breaks down food into energy, and it occurs when your blood glucose is too high. About 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, and about 1 in 5 people with diabetes do not know they have it. According to the CDC, diabetes costs $327 billion annually in medical costs and lost work and wages. People with diabetes have reported to pay almost twice as much in medical bills than people who do not have diabetes. Diabetes can affect mental, physical, and emotional well-being. While there are no cures for diabetes yet, there are many steps people can take to manage the disease and its complications. According to the 2020 National Diabetes Statistics Report, prevalence of diagnosed diabetes was highest among American Indians/Alaska Natives (14.7%), people of Hispanic origin (12.5%), and non-Hispanic blacks (11.7%), followed by non-Hispanic Asians (9.2% and non-Hispanic whites (7.5%). 


Aging, lifestyle habits, family history, socioeconomic status, education, and urbanization are seen as contributors to an increasing prevalence in diabetes. Environmental factors also influence a person's risk for diabetes. Those who live in low socioeconomic neighborhoods typically lack access to quality healthcare, healthy food options, and active transportation, which is part of the reason why certain populations are at disproportionate risk of diabetes. Although some risk factors are unavoidable (e.g. family history), lifestyle factors like physical activity and healthy eating can be modified to decrease risk of diabetes. It’s never too late to begin exercising regularly, eating more healthy foods, and drinking more water.


The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which provides numerous rights that make health coverage more fair, can help reduce diabetes in the United States and accelerate diabetes prevention. According to the American Diabetes Association, the Affordable Care Act made it illegal for insurers to charge higher premiums or deny coverage to individuals with diabetes, paving the way for millions of Americans to gain coverage free from discrimination based on health status. The government can continue to work towards decreasing diabetes rates in the United States by focusing on education initiatives and establishing policies that support dietary choices and improved lifestyle. Learning how to control your diabetes helps you manage your diabetes better, including how and when to take medication, how to monitor blood sugar, and how to take care of yourself—all of which leads to fewer emergency hospital visits. Community based organizations can help people with prediabetes enroll in the National Diabetes Prevention Program, a partnership of public and private organizations working to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes through evidence-based lifestyle change programs. The CDC offers an abundance of online learning modules and webinars that can be used to help support people at risk for developing diabetes or those who already have diabetes.


Resources & Tools


Home page of the POLARIS website
POLARIS
Tool - Toolkit/toolbox
Screen capture of Statistics
The Kidney Project: Statistics
Resource - Website/webpage
Native Americans with Diabetes
Native Americans with Diabetes
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by CDC
Screen capture of beginning of In Common Newsletter: Indigenous Knowledge Library
In Common Newsletter: Indigenous Knowledge Library
Resource
Published on 08/17/2022
diabetes management supplies Photo by Kate on Unsplash
Bright Spot: Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP)
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
Screenshot of Webinars and Videos
Webinars for Professionals | Diabetes
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by CDC
9 Budget-Friendly Foods for a Diabetes Diet
9 Budget-Friendly Foods for a Diabetes Diet
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by Everday Health
four women walking in a line Photo by sk on Unsplash
Bright Spot: DiaBEATit! Walking Group
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
Screenshot of Preserving the Affordable Care Act is Crucial to People with Diabetes
Preserving the Affordable Care Act is Crucial to People with Diabetes
Resource - Policy Brief
Brought to you by ADA
COVID-19 and Diabetes Resource Page
COVID-19 and Diabetes Resource Page
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by ADA
Screenshot of National Diabetes Statistics Report
National Diabetes Statistics Report
Resource - Report
Brought to you by CDC
Screen capture of What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?
What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Resource - Website/webpage
Screenshot of Community-based Organizations (CBOs)
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by CDC
diabetes monitor with hat and sunglasses Photo by Akash Deep on Unsplash
Bright Spot: Diabetes Smart: Diabetes Education Recognition Program (DERP)
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
Person standing on a bathroom scale
Bright Spot: Road to Health Toolkit
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
plate of salmon and vegetables Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash
Bright Spot: National Diabetes Prevention Program
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
How COVID-19 Impacts People with Diabetes
How COVID-19 Impacts People with Diabetes
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by ADA
women exercising Photo by Danielle Cerullo on Unsplash
Bright Spot: WISEWOMAN (NC WISEWOMAN)
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
First page of The State of Diabetes Prevention Policy in the USA Following the Affordable Care Act
The State of Diabetes Prevention Policy in the USA Following the Affordable Care Act
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Screen capture of Chronic Kidney Disease Basics
Chronic Kidney Disease Basics
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by CDC
Title page of Family Reunion Kidney Health Guide
Family Reunion Kidney Health Guide
Resource - Guide/handbook
Screen capture of Diabetes Fast Facts webpage
Diabetes Fast Facts
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by CDC
Photo of two older adults stretching together
Reversing the Risk of Diabetes
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 01/05/2017
blood sugar monitor next to hat and sunglasses Photo by Akash Deep on Unsplash
Resources to Combat Rising Diabetes Rates
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Photo of person with long dark hair being kissed on the cheek by a child in a bright yellow jacket
Tribal Health: Reinvesting in the Indian Health Service
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Staff Pick!
Urban Diabetes Toolbox
Title page of Kidney Sundays: A Toolkit
Kidney Sundays: A Toolkit
Tool - Toolkit/toolbox

Data & Metrics


Banner graphic reads
Accessibility and Disability Equity Library
Library
Published on 09/01/2022

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