Looking for Those with "Borderline Diabetes"
November is National Diabetes Month - And the hunt for those at risk can lead to preventing the disease and its complications.
BOSTON — November 6, 2001 — Now that nationwide clinical research demonstrates that the risk of type 2 diabetes can be cut by more than 50 percent by changes in diet and exercise, it's more important than ever that people with "borderline diabetes" be identified.
"Research shows that people with impaired glucose tolerance or 'borderline diabetes' are at greater risk of developing diabetes, as well as heart disease and other problems we associate with diabetes itself," says Edward S. Horton, M.D., director of clinical research at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. "But the results of the nationwide Diabetes Prevention Program issued this summer showed that people with impaired glucose tolerance can reduce their risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent if they lose a modest amount of weight and begin a program of 30 minutes exercise daily."
Borderline Diabetes Diagnosed, but No Guidance Offered
Yet many patients may be told they have "borderline diabetes," but not given specific instructions and support to achieve the lifestyle changes needed to prevent diabetes, heart disease, and related complications. "In fact, because how diabetes is diagnosed has changed over the past decade, some people may be told they have borderline diabetes when they have actual diabetes," adds Dr. Horton. "As a result, they may be not receiving the education they need to get their blood sugars into a more normal range." People with diabetes who keep their blood sugars in as near a normal range as possible can lower the risk of diabetes complications by as much as half, as well, he notes.
Who Is at Risk?
"Our goal now is to raise people's awareness of diabetes as a public health threat of epidemic proportions," says Dr. Horton. "And to let people know that if they have a history of diabetes in their family, come from certain high-risk ethnic groups (blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans or Native-Americans), or have other diabetes risk factors, they should ask their doctor to be tested at regular intervals."
Epidemic Is Growing
Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) printed a report in the American Diabetes Association's Journal Diabetes Care which predicted that diabetes, already an epidemic in the U.S., is expected to increase by over 165 percent in the next 50 years. "Rates are expected to climb rapidly because of lifestyle changes, including increases in obesity, the aging of the population and a changing racial composition," the CDC researchers reported. The most recent report, plus other reports on diabetes in the past two years, suggest that the greatest growth in diabetes will occur in those aged 75 and older, and in black men (363 percent) and in black women (217 percent). Diabetes is also climbing at an alarming rate in younger age groups, particularly those 30-39 (up 70 percent between 1990 and 1998); and those 40-49 years old (up 40 percent between 1990-1998).
To learn more:
What is borderline diabetes? What do I eat if I have borderline diabetes?
Diabetes at a glance fact sheet: Who is at risk?
