Why Dining with Diabetes?
Diabetes is an expensive disease. The recent research report, "Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2017" estimates that the total cost of diagnosed diabetes has risen to $327 billion in 2017, this cost was estimated to be $245 billion in 2012. This represents a 26% increase over a five-year period. This cost includes direct medical expenses($237 billion) and the cost of reduced productivity ($90 billion). According to this study, people with diabetes spend an average of 2.3 times the amount people without diabetes spend each year on their health. That works out to an average of $16,752 a year per person, about $9,601 of which is directly attributed to diabetes. Source: American Diabetes Association, March 2018.
Diabetes is one of the most costly health conditions in Kansas. Diabetes and prediabetes cost an estimated $2.6 billion in Kansas each year (CDC). More than 50% of spending on type 2 diabetes is for treating health problems that could have been prevented with better diabetes management. Research shows that diabetes can be treated and managed by healthful eating, regular physical activity, and medications to lower blood glucose levels. The Dining with Diabetes program provides education and training focused on behaviors shown to help people with diabetes stay healthy.
Diabetes by the numbers in Kansas
According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment:
- In 2014, 10.3 percent of Kansas adults aged 18 years and older reported ever being diagnosed with diabetes.
- In 2014, 6.5 percent of Kansas adults had ever been diagnosed with prediabetes.
- The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes among Kansas adults increases with age. The highest prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes is among adults, age 55 and older.
- Diabetes is more prevalent among non-Hispanic African-Americans and Hispanics than among non-Hispanic whites. The prevalence of prediabetes does not differ significantly by race or ethnicity group.
- The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes does not differ significantly by gender.
- In 2013, among Kansas adults with diabetes, more than 15 percent reported they had been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness.
- In 2014, more than 14 percent of Kansas adults with diabetes reported they had ever had a stroke or coronary heart disease.
Kansas Diabetes and Prediabetes Facts - May 2016 Fact Sheet
Note: Individualize meal plans or meal plan guidance is not a part of this program.
