Our healthcare industry is supposed to be focused on treating diseases, illnesses, and helping people. But in the United States we have a lot of things we could improve on but a major concern is the increasing rate of obesity and type two diabetes. There are more than 34 million people in the United States who have diabetes according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).They also state that diabetes is also the 7th leading cause of death here in the United States and it’s been mentioned that it could even be underreported (Type 2 Diabetes, 2019).

According to the CDC, “In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population as have aged and become more overweight or obese” (Type 2 Diabetes, 2019).  Back in 2010 the CDC announced a press release stating that their estimation is that by the year 2050 one in every three adults will have diabetes (Press Release, 2010).

If this is what our future is looking like, what are we doing wrong in our healthcare industry?

Our current healthcare industry isn’t perfect, but we have the potential to make a difference. Most of the healthcare industry is built up of individuals that are intelligent, and passionate about helping people. The goal is to protect, maintain, and promote health while preventing disease, disability, and death.Our problem with diabetes numbers continuously rising stems from multiple issues.

1.)    Lack of screening for diabetes.

2.)    Changes in diagnostic criteria for diabetes.

3.)    Availability of medical care.

4.)    Patient lifestyle choices including diet or physical activity.

5.)    Patient genetics or family history of diabetes.

6.)    Miscommunication between healthcare providers and patients about risk factors, prevention, etc.

7.)    Patients lack of education in proper management or prevention.

Overall, obesity is seen as the main contributor and that continues to rise with physical inactivity and poor diet like the American diet. The prevalence of diabetes will continue to rise if our health industry and population don’t start making some changes. Those changes include the ones you’re already starting by joining the Health Transitions Clinic.

You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes with simple, proven lifestyle changes that we promote in our clinic such as losing weight, eating a healthier diet that is a high fat/moderate protein/low carbohydrate, and getting regular physical activity.

Resources:

Type 2 Diabetes. (2019, May 30). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html

Press Release: Number of Americans with Diabetes Projected to Double or Triple by 2050. (2010, October 22). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2010/r101022.html