Veterans in Nevada may be interested in knowing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is dedicating resources to better manage diabetes, which the V.A calls a "silent epidemic." Type 2 diabetes affects almost 20 percent of veterans who use V.A. health care, compared with about 8 percent of the general population.
Dr. Timothy O'Leary, acting director, V.A. Office of Research and Development, said diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney disease and amputation in the U.S. He warned that up to 80 percent of patients with diabetes will face heart attack or stroke.
"While diabetes is silent as it initially presents, and needs a blood test or a urine test to be confirmed, its consequences are not silent at all," O'Leary said.
Group meetings are proving to be a successful method to help people control their blood sugar, the doctor added. The V.A. has also found that having veterans use pedometers encourages more physical activity, which can help keep diabetes under control.
Most research shows successful management of the disease is not something people do alone. O'Leary said video-conferencing is one tool that has helped reduce the rate of physical disabilities.
"Sometimes, information is even delivered through the computer or the telephone by a coach or a counselor far away, which can be important if you live in a rural area or you have transportation problems," he said.
March 25 is American Diabetes Association Alert Day, when everyone is encouraged to take a risk assessment online. Known risk factors for diabetes include a family history; being overweight, age 40 or older, or suffering diabetes during pregnancy; and a lack of physical activity.
O'Leary pointed out the disease also shows up in people without those risk factors, and research indicates that exposure to environmental toxins can trigger the disease, too.
The online risk assessment tool is available at www.diabetes.org.[[In-content Ad]]
