Killer disease stalking New Yorkers

January 13, 11:09 AMNY Nutrition ExaminerDebora Yost

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Diabetes, the fastest rising disease in America, is striking New Yorkers in record numbers – and half of them aren’t even aware of it.

A total of 12.5 percent of people in New York City – that’s about 700,000 –have Type 2 Diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes or diabetes mellitus, according to a study conducted by the New York City Health Department and published in the January issue of Diabetes Care. That’s 71 percent higher than the national rate of 7.3 percent and double the incidence of the disease in New York a decade ago.

“This sounds the alarm, alerting us that diabetes treatment needs to be improved in New York City,” says Dr. Robin Goland, co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. “It is very important for patients with diabetes to get the help they need to optimally manage their diabetes and associated problems, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, in order to help prevent cardiovascular disease.”

Diabetes is a life-threatening disease. It increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. At least 65 percent of people with diabetes die from some form of heart disease and stroke. Most people with diabetes already have other risk factors for heart disease. This study found that 90 percent of New Yorkers with diabetes also have elevated blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar. The study reports that less than 10 percent of New Yorkers with the disease are fully controlling it.

New York City has instituted the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program to help raise awareness of the disease and improve quality of care. One step the health department is taking is to require most labs to take blood sugar tests and report them electronically to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Diabetes is preventable through diet and exercise. Its epidemic climb is fueled by the rising obesity rate – what doctors and researchers have coined diabesity. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that 20.8 million Americans have diabetes and about 30 percent are unaware that they have it.