Study Predicts Dramatic Diabetes Increases By 2034

From Podiatry Today
January 2010

  A new study in Diabetes Care predicts the rate of diabetes will nearly double in the next 25 years and total health care spending for diabetes will nearly triple in the same period.
  Researchers project that the number of people in America diagnosed with diabetes will be 44.1 million in 2034, up from 23.7 million in 2009.  In the Medicare population with diabetes will rise from 8.2 million in 2009 to 14.6 million in 2034.  In that time period, the study authors say the rate of obesity will remain consistent at about 65 percent of the population.
  In addition, the study authors say annual medical costs in the United States related to diabetes will increase from $113 billion to $336 billion (a 300% increase) by 2034.  They project the rate of Medicare diabetes spending will increase from $45 billion to $171 billion (a 400% increase) during that same period.

Conquering Poor Dietary Choices

  While there are environmental and genetic components to diabetes, Dr. Lee Rogers, DPM, blames environmental factors for the projected escalation in prevalence.  Specifically, Dr. Rogers says poor dietary choices are the primary driver behind two-thirds of Americans being overweight or obese.  Dr. Rogers says that the government's attempts at more accurately labeling foods has not had an effect on obesity.
  While unpopular, Dr. Rogers feels that 'fat tax' on items such as soft drinks and fast foods, or financial incentives for being healthy may be needed in order to curb our culture of obesity.

Personal note:

I see many foot and ankle ailments as the result of increased BMI (body mass index).  It is of my opinion that patients over the age of  21 that 75% of the problems are related to weight.  It is my opinion that until we start attaching this obesity rate to the pocketbook of the individuals (increased health insurance premiums for those with BMI of greater than 25) we will have a culture that will stress the health care industry with increased costs associated with multiple morbidity's.

"The journey of life is taken one step at a time... none of them should be painful." G.M. Barclay, DPM