SearchNovember is National Diabetes Month
by Teresa Anderson, MPH
More than 30 million adults in the U.S. have diabetes and 1 in 4 don’t even know they have it. There are 3 different types of diabetes – type 1, type 2 and gestational (pregnancy related) – and according to a 2017 National Diabetes Statistics Report 90%-95% of all diabetes cases are type 2. Even more alarming is the markedly higher incidence and prevalence rates of diabetes (specifically type 2) in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Research shows that the prevalence rate of diabetes in adults with IDD is 2 to 3.3 times higher (depending on age group) than people without IDD. The literature suggests several different reasons, many quite complex, for the significantly higher rates of diabetes as well as strategies and recommendations for interventions that could reduce the rate of diabetes in people with IDD.
Health and wellness interventions are an important strategy toward improving health outcomes and reducing the incidence of diabetes for people with IDD. Policy research shows there are changes that can be made to reduce diabetes among people with IDD and some of these changes include:
- Increase targeted outreach efforts for diabetes screening programs specific to people with IDD (identifying pre-diabetes is critical to preventing diabetes)
- Allocate funds for public health surveillance dedicated to finding out how people with IDD manage their blood sugar levels
- Provide programs and access to programs that increase knowledge about healthy living – nutrition, exercise, mental health and overall wellness
- Increase access to education about preventing and managing diabetes specifically designed to meet the needs of people with IDD
- Increase research on the incidence and prevalence of diabetes among people with IDD.
Continuing to advocate for inclusion in all health promotion programs and for public health dollars dedicated to increasing public health interventions for people with IDD is critical to improving health outcomes. For more information about Diabetes and advocating for change visit:
http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy/advocacy-priorities/prevention/