About Chronic Conditions
Chronic conditions are those that are long lasting and can worsen over time. They require ongoing medical attention and lifestyle management and can limit activities of daily living. Common conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading cause of death and disability in the U.S. Six out of 10 American adults have at least one chronic condition and 4 in 10 have more than one chronic condition, according to the CDC.
Key risk factors for chronic conditions include smoking. Over 16 million Americans are living with diseases caused by smoking, such as cancer, heart disease stroke, and several lung diseases.
Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are key risk factors for chronic conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, stroke, certain cancers, and depression.
Another key risk factor is excessive alcohol use which can lead to serious problems, including alcohol use disorder and problems with learning, memory, and mental health. Chronic health conditions linked to excessive alcohol use include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and some kinds of cancer.
Other key factors are known as social determinants of health. These include nonmedical factors such as living in communities without safe spaces like parks to be physically active, or grocery stores that sell fresh fruits and vegetables. In some rural areas, it's hard to get medical care because of doctor shortages, hospital closures, or long distances to care. This makes it challenging to get preventive screenings or specialist follow-up care.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/index.html
For more information, please visit https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-top-10-most-common-chronic-conditions-in-older-adults/
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which the body’s cells are unable to use insulin well. It is a key focus area due to the severity of its costs and heath consequences. In the USA over 38.4 million adults over the age of 18 have diabetes (14.7%). The percent of people who have diabetes in Nebraska and in the U.S. has been on the rise since 2000.
Diabetes can lead to some very serious health problems such as:
• Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults 18-64.
• Diabetes is known to result in kidney disease or kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and blindness.
• The average person with diabetes could spend between $3,300 and $4,600 a year on out-of-pocket costs.
• Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in Nebraska and the USA.
• 38 million Americans have prediabetes a many are unaware that they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Here is a snapshot of diabetes in the United States:
Though there are three main types of Diabetes, we primarily focus on preventing Type 2 because it is known to be preventable.
- Type 1 Diabetes: Cannot be prevented and makes up 5% of cases of diabetes in adults. Diagnosed more commonly among children.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Onset is more gradual and makes up 90-95% of cases of diabetes in adults. It can be prevented with lifestyle and environmental modifications.
- Gestational Diabetes (GDM): Develops during pregnancy and can lead to complications if not managed. Women who develop GDM during pregnancy have significant risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
- Prediabetes is often a precursor to developing type 2 diabetes.
- Your doctor can diagnose diabetes or GDM using blood tests. The blood tests show if your blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than the range that is healthy for you.
Risk Factors for Developing Type 2 Diabetes:
What You Can Do:
