Diabetes is serious, controllable and preventable.
In 2010, Mississippi ranked the 2nd highest in the U.S. for overall diabetes prevalence, with over 270,000 adult Mississippians having type 2 diabetes (over 12% of the adult population).
Diabetes contributed to the deaths of 926 Mississippians in 2010, and many more live with the complications of Type 2 diabetes, including lower extremity amputations, end stage renal disease, blindness, loss of protective sensation, heart disease and premature death.
Diabetes is preventable. Learn more below about your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and the small steps you can take to delay or prevent the disease and live a longer, healthier life.
| About Diabetes | High-Risk Groups | Prevention | MSDH Diabetes Program | Resources |
About Type 2 Diabetes
Percentage of adults
diagnosed with diabetes,
2009
(CDC)
Diabetes is an incurable disease that affects the way the body uses food. Diabetes causes glucose levels in the blood to be too high. Normally, during digestion the body changes sugars, starches, and other foods into a form of sugar called glucose. Glucose is carried to the body's cells and, with the help of insulin (a hormone), is converted into energy. In healthy people blood glucose levels are kept within normal ranges by proper insulin function.
People develop type 2 diabetes because the cells in the muscles, liver, and fat do not use insulin properly. As a result, the amount of sugar in the blood increases, while the cells are starved of energy. Over time, high blood sugar damages nerves and blood vessels, leading to complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infections, and amputation.
Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Prevented?
Yes. The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) found that moderate diet and exercise that results in 5 to 7 percent weight loss can delay and possibly prevent Type 2 Diabetes.
I Have Heard the Term "Pre-Diabetes". What is it?
Pre-diabetes simply means that one is at risk for getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If your blood sugar level is higher than normal but lower than the diabetes range, then you have pre-diabetes. The good news is you can reduce the risk of getting diabetes and even return to normal blood sugar levels. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.
How much does diabetes cost the nation?
- Total health care and related costs for the treatment of diabetes ran about $174 billion in 2007, the latest year for which cost data are available.
- Of this total, direct medical costs (e.g., hospitalizations, medical care, treatment supplies) account for about $116 billion.
- The other $58 billion covers indirect costs such as disability payments, time lost from work, and premature death.
High Risk Groups
African-Americans
African-Americans are 77 percent more likely than whites to be diagnosed with diabetes, and one in four African-American women older than 55 has diabetes.
African-Americans with diabetes are also more likely to experience complications from the disease. As of 2009, more than 12% of all African-Americans ages 20 and older have diagnosed.
Find Out More
American Indians and Alaska Natives
American Indians and Alaska Natives are about twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. As of 2009, 16.1 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives 20 years or older served by the Indian Health Service have been diagnosed with diabetes.Find Out More
Hispanic and Latino Americans
On average, Hispanics are 66 percent more likely to have diagnosed diabetes as whites. Among Mexican-Americans, the largest Hispanic subgroup, the risk is even higher, at 87%. As of 2009, more than 2 million Hispanic adults (11.8% of the adult population) have diabetes.
Find Out More
- The Diabetes Epidemic Among Hispanic and Latino Americans
- El Poder de Controlar la Diabetes Está en Sus Manos
Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders
The rate of diagnosed diabetes in Asian-Americans in 2009 rose to 8.4% of the adult population, and Asian-Americans are at an 18% higher risk of being diagnosed with diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.Find Out More
MSDH Diabetes Program
The MSDH Diabetes Program works to prevent diabetes in the state, and to reduce the lifestyle and other factors that contribute to diabetes.
For More Information
On-line resources
- National Diabetes Educational Program (NDEP)
You can learn more about your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and the small steps you can take to delay or prevent the disease and live a long, healthy life from the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). The NDEP is a partnership of the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than 200 public and private organizations. - Better Diabetes Care NIH
- Diabetes at Work NDEP
Organizations
- Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi
- American Diabetes Association
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Diabetes Translation
- National Association of Chronic Disease Directors Diabetes Council
- American Association of Diabetes Educators
- American Dietetic Association
- American Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
- CMS Health Disparities Center
Organizations
Print resources
Printed materials can be requested through the Mississippi State Department of Health at 601-576-7781.
- Leg Exercises for People with Diabetes Publication #5038
- Four Steps to Control Your Diabetes for Life Publication #5044
- More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes Publication #5045
- Diabetes Facts for Everyone Publication #5144
- Being Active If You have Diabetes Publication #5138
