Diabetes Could Double in TN Population
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November 30, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Early detection and treatment will help Tennesseans control the severity of diabetes. That's good news in light of a new report that says diabetes cases could almost double in the nation over the next 25 years.
Dr. Thomas Elasy, director of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center diabetes program, says just under 24 million Americans already are being treated for diabetes, and early diagnosis can mean a longer, more productive life.
"The portfolio of options that are available to us has expanded dramatically over the last decade, such that they're not only simple and effective but they're really without side effects, and they're quite safe."
The report, from the University of Chicago, predicts more than 44 million cases of diabetes in America by the year 2034. Some of the symptoms - like excessive thirst and urination, and low energy levels - are well known, but Elasy says one symptom is surprising.
"Often, at the onset of the disease, as you come closer to the diagnosis of the disease, it's not unusual to lose weight."
He says diagnosing and treating diabetes early also can save money. Figuring in inflation, the report says the direct medical costs of treatment will almost triple, to $336 billion a year, by 2034.
The report, "Projecting the Future Diabetes Population Size and Related Costs for the U.S.," is being published in the December 2009 issue of the journal "Diabetes Care." It is available online at http://care.diabetesjournals.org/.