If obesity rates continue to rise, the CDC said one-third of Americans will have diabetes by 2050 and treatment costs will triple. Image CC Tobyotter/Flickr

One in three Americans will be living with diabetes by 2050 if the disease continues to increase at current rates. The Centers for Disease control released a report Friday attributing the projected trend to rising obesity rates and an aging population. As the cost of treating diabetes is expected to triple, the CDC has launched efforts reduce the number of cases.

Millions are diabetic and don’t even know it

Diabetes currently affects 1 in 10 Americans — about 23.6 million people, according to the CDC. A CNN article on the study reported that if obesity trends continue, diabetes cases are expected to double and possibly triple by 2050. Today about 6 million people aren’t even aware they have diabetes. The CDC said 57 million Americans with excess fat around the midsection are pre-diabetic and destined to develop the condition unless their lifestyles change. Most of will end up with type 2 diabetes, and their bodies will lose the ability to produce insulin.

Diabetes treatment costs skyrocket

To prevent diabetes, there’s nothing people can do about growing older. However, the biggest risk factor — obesity — can be avoided with a healthy diet and exercise. Avoiding obesity will save a lot of money as well. According to the American Diabetes Association, Americans already spend $174 billion annually to treat diabetes. The ADA recommends that everyone, even if they are not obese, get screened for diabetes by age 45. Obese people should consider getting tested at an earlier age.

A pound of prevention, an ounce of cure

The CDC said it has a plan to reduce diabetes and to help people make smarter lifestyle choices. Its prevention efforts target communities where healthy food is hard to find and safe places to exercise are scarce. Even so, the CDC report found that prevention efforts could reduce the number of cases but not keep them from increasing overall. The authors wrote that without preventive intervention, 3.5 million cases are expected in 2050. With prevention efforts, 3.1 million people will learn they have the disease for a net reduction of 344,000 diabetics in 2050.

Sources

CNN

ABC News

MedPage Today

Image by flickr

The Center for Disease Control has issued warnings for people on the Eastern seaboard to watch out for a large shipment of recalled beef, as up to over a half a million pounds of ground beef have been found to be contaminated with E. coli.  The infected beef was produced and shipped by Fairbanks Farms, of Ashville, New York.  The company has issued a recall of almost 546,000 pounds of fresh ground beef; a recall this large costs more than a personal loan or two.

Up to 28 people may have been made ill

As of today, up to 28 people may have been sickened from eating said contaminated beef.  16 have been hospitalized and so far, 2 have died.  Both fatalities had underlying conditions and complications which were instrumental in their passing.  18 of the suspected infections are in New England, and all but 3 are in the Northeast.  The beef was distributed in Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  It was sold in Trader Joe’s, Lancaster, Wild Harvest, Shaw’s, BJ’s, Ford Brothers and Giant stores.  Consumers living in the Northeast are cautioned to find any packages bearing the label “EST. 492.” It won’t be sold as fresh any more, as the expiration dates were listed as at the end of September.  Here is a link to a  full list of products that contained the contaminated product.

E. Coli is a nasty bug – a paradoxical bacteria

E. Coli, or under the full title, Escherichia coli, is a common bacteria, and it’s one you already have – it’s kind of necessary.  It’s one of the bacteria that lives in the human digestive tract, and you probably wouldn’t survive long without it.  However, the strain that is endemic to humans isn’t the one endemic to cows.  The bovine strain is toxic to humans, and uncooked or contaminated beef can cause havoc.  The most common form that people get sick from is O157:H7 E. Coli (from Wikipedia) called the “hamburger” bacteria, as that’s the common source of infection.  It can cause anything from gastroenteritis (the “stomach flu”) to bloody diarrhea, in severe cases, kidney failure and in 2 to 7% of cases, haemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure.  The very young, very old, and the immune-compromised are more susceptible to this complication – as they are more susceptible to other diseases like influenza. E.coli can be acquired from meat, unpasteurized milk, swimming in contaminated water, or eating contaminated uncooked vegetables  (it gets into the environment from the business end of a cow).

Typically, it resolves itself within a few days for most people.  However, there are about 2,000 people hospitalized with it annually, and HUS complications from E.coli infections are responsible for about 60 deaths per year.

Those living in NE might want to check their freezer

People living in New England might be susceptible, so it’s suggested you check your freezer if you think you’re at risk.  A hospital stay will cost you more than a cash advance worth, that’s for sure.