Volusia County, FL - According to the Department of Health in Volusia County (DOH-Volusia), black residents have the highest diabetes-related death rate.
A new report, that compares health inequities across gender, race, and location, shows black residents are 60% more likely to die from diabetes. The report also found that men are more likely to die from diabetes than women and that the northwest and southwest quadrants of the County had the highest diabetic death rates. Diabetes-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits were also higher among blacks than whites, Hispanics, and other racial or ethnic groups.
During the period of time between 2012 and 2016, the diabetic death rate fell 6%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that being inactive and overweight, especially with a family history of diabetes, are the biggest risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Race and ethnicity also play a role in a person's risk of diabetes.
If a pre-diabetic person does not change their lifestyle within 5 years, they will develop type 2 diabetes, says the CDC. Type 2 diabetes can result in serious health complications like:
Pre-diabetes is often unnoticeable as there are no clear symptoms. If you have any of the following risk factors, you are urged to consult a doctor about blood sugar testing:
A 200-pound person losing 5 to 7% of their body weight, or around 10 to 14 pounds, can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of activity a week, or at least 30 minutes a day for 5 days out of the week. These lifestyle changes can potentially lower diabetes risk by 58% or 71% if you are 60 years old or older.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
