Preventing type 2 diabetes may reduce risk of hospitalization

Dawn Fleming, News-Topic, Lenoir, N.C.
·2 min read

Jan. 25—LENOIR — Diabetes is the seventh-leading health concern in Caldwell County, according to the Caldwell UNC Health Care Community Health Assessment 2019-2020.

Caldwell County's rate of death for individuals with diabetes is 26.24 per 100,00 people, which is higher than North Carolina's rate of 23.63. The number of diabetes-related deaths in Caldwell County increased between 2017 to 2019.

The Caldwell County Health Department's Strategic Plan 2018-2021 included offering preventive care for screenings of chronic illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes. It was the intent of the plan to offer one diabetes prevention program between 2018-2021, but it was discontinued in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Diabetes increases one's risk of being hospitalized due to COVID-related symptoms.

On March 9, 2021, the National Institutes of Health stated, "The researchers estimated that more than 900,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations occurred through November 2020. Based on their model, 30% of these hospitalizations were attributable to obesity, 26% to hypertension, 21% to diabetes, and 12% to heart failure."

Individuals who are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes have the potential to create a turning point in their lives for healthy living, Christopher Holliday, director of the Division of Diabetes Translation at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a November press release.

"Life sometimes grants us an opportunity to make small changes that can have profound effects on the trajectory of our health and our lives," he said. "Diabetes affects every part of the body and can lead to a cascade of negative health outcomes, significantly impacting a person's quality of life."

Early detection of pre-diabetes may lead to a reversal; however, according to the CDC, 84% of people living with pre-diabetes may not be aware they have it.

As part of a public service announcement ad campaign, the CDC directs people to the "Do I have Pre Diabetes" assessment online at https://doihaveprediabetes.org/