November Is National Diabetes Month

Increased Risk for Diabetes National Stats:

In 2015, 30.3 million Americans, or 9.4% of the population, had diabetes.

• Of the 30.3 million adults with diabetes, 23.1 million were diagnosed, and 7.2 million were undiagnosed.

• The percentage of Americans age 65 and older remains high, at 25.2%, or 12.0 million seniors (diagnosed and undiagnosed); 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year.

• Prediabetes: In 2015, 84.1 million Americans age 18 and older had prediabetes.

Costs:

$327 billion: Total costs of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2017
$237 billion for direct medical costs
$90 billion in reduced productivity

The biggest risk factor for type 2 diabetes is prediabetes, a collection of conditions that show up as high blood glucose levels.

10,299 of our FHCP members already have prediabetes and are at high risk of developing diabetes if there are no changes in their lifestyle. Most of them don’t know they have this increased risk.

• THE GOOD NEWS IS that prediabetes often can be reversed through weight loss, diet changes, and increased physical activity.

• The key is for our members to know where they stand and take action as soon as possible.

We need your help. Talk to your patient; refer them to the Diabetes/Health Education Department 386-238-3228 (fax). Ask at every visit if they are attending and participating in our programs to help them prevent diabetes. Let them take advantage of our FREE education services. We can work together to improve the health and well-being of our members to prevent diabetes.