I saw this today and thought I'd share it with all of you...it's nice to be reminded what we're helping when we contribute to the Foundation.
LEIP,
Donielle
Diabetes Costs Soar to Almost $92 Billion
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's medical bills for diabetes have more than doubled since 1997, costing almost $92 billion last year, researchers reported Thursday.
Add lost productivity, and diabetes cost the nation a total of $132 billion last year, the American Diabetes Association reported. That's up from $44 billion in medical bills, and $98 billion in total costs, in 1997.
More than 16 million Americans have diabetes, although experts think 6 million of them don't know it is silently festering in their bodies. It's a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, limb amputations and heart disease, and kills 180,000 people annually.
Some people are born with diabetes. But the vast majority have the Type 2 form that is increasing at epidemic proportions as Americans get older, fatter and less active — hence the rising costs.
Even modest weight loss and exercise significantly lowers the chances of getting this type of diabetes, the government noted in publicizing the ADA's new cost estimates.
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On the Net:
American Diabetes Organization:
http://www.diabetes.org
Diabetes Reminder
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