Diabetes on the rise in Hawaii (and everywhere else)

Hawaii stats:

It is estimated that 102,000 people in the Islands have diabetes, according to the state Department of Health. Medicare for the state reported over $234 million fee-for-service spending for those with diabetes, close to half the total Medicare spending for the state. Not only is Medicare feeling the financial strain, but private insurers, employers and consumers are all noticing the increase in diabetes – and in insurance premiums.

According to the American Diabetes Association, those with diabetes use hospital outpatient, hospital inpatient, emergency rooms, physician offices and other health professionals more than those without diabetes. It is estimated that those with diabetes have yearly medical expenditures over double of those without diabetes – nearly $12,000.

According to Hawaii’s largest health insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association, nineteen-percent of their paid benefits in 2007 were due to diabetes. In addition, state health officials have stated the price tag for diabetes in Hawaii – close to $1 billion.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has 16,000 members with diabetes, with a total of 220,000 members.

It’s not just Hawaii

While these numbers are staggering, they are not much different anywhere in the country. Diabetes is unquestionably on the rise in America, costing the country $174 billion annually. This number has increased 32 percent over the last five years.

Nationally, 30 percent of Medicare spending is for people with diabetes.

There are nearly 24 million people with diabetes in the United States and that number is steadily rising.

Health officials are definitely worried about this increase. Their main goal is education for prevention.

While diabetes is growing nationwide, in most cases it can be prevented by lifestyle changes.

Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes. Eating healthy and getting enough exercise can go a long way in prevention, and prevention is needed, because diabetes can be followed by a host of other complications, such as blindness, kidney disease, stroke, and hypertension. Many people don’t realize the seriousness of diabetes until they are faced with its complications.

Unfortunately, the country’s health care system does not recognize the need for preventative health care: we only deal with a problem once it is in full effect. Insurance does not cover Weight Watchers or nutrition. The only help that can be gained is for diabetes itself.

A problem that hopefully will be addressed as the rate of diabetes begins to climb.





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