DIABETES DETECTION AND PREVENTION, WA

Type 2 Diabetes is a common, serous, and expensive disease in Pennsylvania. The complications of undiagnosed, untreated or under treated diabetes are devastating. When blood glucose levels are not well controlled the resulting complications include retinopathy, kidney failure, and amputations. When blood glucose is controlled, the onset of these complications can be delayed or prevented. If individuals who are at risk for developing diabetes take the necessary steps to control their weight and are regularly physically active, they can delay the onset of this disease or possibly prevent it completely. The major lifestyle changes for those at risk for or who have type 2 diabetes to manage or prevent the disease include diet modifications and regular physical activity. These changes require lifelong behavior modification and are the cornerstones of management for this chronic and devastating disease. Individuals and families affected by diabetes struggle with understanding complicated diet recommendations, putting these recommendations into practice, and separating myths and outdated advice of the past. After about 20 years, the higher than normal blood glucose levels experienced by individuals with diabetes cause nearly everyone with type 1 diabetes and more than 60 percent of people with type 2 diabetes to develop deterioration in the blood vessels of the retina (diabetic retinopathy) (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 2001). The retina is the part of the eye that transforms light into what the brain perceives as vision. Diabetes also increases the risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma. Most people with diabetes experience only mild vision problems. Others can have more severe problems that can result in blindness. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults in the United States. Diabetic retinopathy causes more than 20,000 new cases of blindness each year. The health care cost of this vision loss is $684 Million a year (NIDDK, 2002). Many at risk populations living in rural areas lack easy access to diabetes education programs, screenings and services. At-risk populations need information on how to manage their diabetes, control their blood sugar, as well as education on how to modify meal plans and food choices. Physical activity is encouraged and is necessary to manage, and even prevent, type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is believed to be linked to increased incidence of obesity, inactivity and other lifestyle issues. The location for this project is excellent because of the county infrastructure that includes a local Cooperative Extension office having a long and successful history of teaching nutrition education qualified extension educators who are enthusiastic about improving the availability of diabetes education in their area. Nutrition educational classes will be provided to help program participants gain knowledge and skills to improve their food and activity choices to improve diabetes management and control.