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The Diabetes Epidemic in Tennessee:
Executive Summary
SCOPE
- The number of adult diabetics in Tennessee have increased by 33% from 1990 to 2000.
- Diabetes rates are highest in West Tennessee, with some Tennessee counties experiencing the highest diabetes rates in the country.
- The diabetes epidemic is impacting every section of the population, however blacks and persons over 65 are particularly affected.
CAUSES
- As many as half of Tennesseans may suffer from "metabolic syndrome" a dangerous pre-diabetic state caused by being overweight and inactive.
- The vast majority of diabetes and pre-diabetes is caused by an unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and associated obesity.
PREVENTION
- The vast majority of diabetes and pre-diabetes is preventable or curable through exercise and healthy eating habits.
- Current diabetes prevention efforts in Tennessee schools, churches, clinics, and workplaces have not proven adequate to temper or reserve the epidemic.
- Few schools incorporate daily physical exercise into the curriculum, and most schools provide ready access to unhealthy foods and drinks to students.
HEALTHCARE
- Diabetes and pre-diabetes are often undiagnosed and left untreated.
- Although many diagnosed diabetics receive recommended diabetic services such as eye exams, Tennessee lags behind most other states in quality of care for diabetes.
- People with diabetes in Tennessee generally do not receive adequate education and counseling about diabetes, nutrition and exercise.
- Health plans and employers seldom fund exercise and weight loss programs.
DISPARITIES
- There is regional and ethnic variation in the quality of care received by Tennessee's diabetic population. Blacks and West Tennesseans receive a lower quality of care.
RESPONSE
- Since the underlying causes of diabetes begin in childhood, early prevention is the key to reversing the diabetes epidemic.
- Immediate statewide action must be taken to promote daily exercise in schools and decrease access to non-nutritional or "junk" food.
- Health plans, communities, churches, schools, employers, health professional organizations, and state and local governments need to work together to battle the diabetes epidemic through education, community-wide health promotion programs and improved quality of care for all diabetics in Tennessee.
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