Click here to read this op-ed in Spanish 
  
 What is diabetes and could you have it without knowing it? 

Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and lower limb amputation. It is a disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin or does not properly use the insulin that is produced.  In Type 1 diabetes, which was previously known as juvenile diabetes because it is usually diagnosed in childhood, the body does not produce insulin.  In Type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases. 

Shockingly, nearly one-third of the 20.8 million American children and adults in our country who have diabetes are not even aware of it.  Another 54 million Americans have “pre-diabetes,” meaning their blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes, putting them at high risk of developing the disease.

So who is at risk for diabetes and why?

Risk factors include a family history of diabetes, being overweight, lack of regular exercise, and low HDL cholesterol or high blood pressure.  In addition, seniors over age 55 account for approximately half of all diabetes cases. 

Racial minorities continue to have a higher incidence of the disease and are often less able to obtain the care they need to manage their diabetes.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have estimated that by 2050, 50 percent of minority adults will have the disease.  Already an estimated 2.5 million members of the Latino community who are 20 years or older have this serious disease.  Mexican Americans, in particular, the largest Latino subgroup, are 1.7 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. 

While there currently is no cure for diabetes, it is proven that people can prevent the disease’s serious complications with proper management and treatment. Further, those at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes can take steps and make lifestyle choices to delay or prevent its onset. These steps include getting a physical to determine your risk for developing diabetes, getting early access to quality treatment and making healthy choices like eating right and staying active.

As we observe American Diabetes Month this November, we urge you to visit a doctor to find out if you are at risk for developing diabetes, and what steps you can take to live a longer, healthier life.  Please encourage your loved ones and friends to do the same.  Early detection and treatment are vital to preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes or its complications. 

At the same time, we need to make diabetes research, education and prevention programming a priority.  We must work to bring attention and much needed funds to the Division of Diabetes Translation within the CDC.  This critical agency is a key tool in the prevention of, and education about, diabetes, yet it is currently underfunded.

Our own California Diabetes Program which provides valuable consultation and training programs is primarily funded with a grant from CDC.  The Program serves as a valuable resource for educational materials on preventing and controlling diabetes, many of which come in multiple languages such as Spanish.  With additional CDC funding, the program could better address the diverse needs of our state.

Diabetes stands as the great public health crisis of the next quarter century, particularly in the Latino and minority communities.  Together, we can fight this disease and improve the lives of all Americans affected by it.

You can learn more about diabetes by visiting diabetes.org or by calling the American Diabetes Association’s Call Center at 1-800-DIABETES. 

(Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard is the first Latina in U.S. history appointed to the House Appropriations Committee.  She serves on the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education where she oversees funding for many important health-related programs and agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health and community health centers.  In this role, she has been an advocate for CDC health research and preventative health programs.)

(Dr. Victor H. Gonzalez is an American Board of Ophthalmology certified retinal specialist.  He is also active in research on diabetic eye diseases. Dr. Gonzalez has been volunteering for the American Diabetes Association for over twelve years and is currently Chair of the Latino Diabetes Action Council (LDAC).  Comprised of national and regional health leaders, LDAC serves as an advisory council to the Association on issues regarding diabetes education, disparities, access, and programs affecting the Latino community.)
 

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