October 2006 Vol. 25. No. 10

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Reading Service of the Redwoods Volunteers
Medicare Rx: October dates can affect prescription plans
California's Universal Health Care - could it have worked?
Senior Aqua Aerobics: A new group likes getting all wet
Del Norte STRONG classes
McKinleyville - Health services at the senior center
Fortuna-Feeling dizzy? Feeling tired? Maybe it's your pills
Diabetes and obesity: a modern day epidemic
Senior softball: World champ gets his ring

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From 1997 through 2003, new cases of diagnosed diabetes among Americans aged 18 to 79 increased by 52 percent. If this trend continues, it is estimated that one in three Americans born in 2000 or later will eventually be diagnosed with diabetes.

Currently, diabetes is the nation's sixth leading cause of death by disease. This epidemic trend in diabetes goes hand in hand with the trend for overweight and obesity which presently sits at 66 percent of the American population. Obesity is a significant risk factor for the development of many chronic diseases.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is complex disorder primarily resulting from the failure of the body to produce sufficient or effective insulin, the hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other foods into energy.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, occurs when the body builds up a resistance to insulin. Insulin resistance means that the insulin is less effective at converting food into energy, resulting in an over-production of insulin which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, weight gain and the eventual onset of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes used to be a disease of older people but now the largest age group developing type 2 diabetes is age 40 to 59. Because of the rising rates of obesity in children, type 2 diabetes is also occurring in people younger than 20, particularly in families where parents have diabetes.

Decreased activity levels and over-consumption of high fat and high sugar foods is believed to be the culprit in both the rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes in children and adults.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

When the blood sugar is elevated, the most common symptoms are increased thirst, increased urination, lethargy, blurry vision, delayed healing and numbness in the hands or feet. The symptoms may be subtle and undetectable.

If you have one or more risk factors for diabetes, in particular a family history of diabetes, are overweight, have high blood cholesterol or high blood pressure or are a member of a high-risk ethnic group (African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander), you should get tested for diabetes.

Local assistance and resources

Humboldt County is fortunate to have the Humboldt Diabetes Project administered by the Humboldt/Del Norte Independent Practice Association. The project's primary objective is to improve the care of people with diabetes. It brought in experts to help train providers in diagnosis and care, built a computer data base to assure optimal care and supported the development of the diabetes educational program, Health Education Alliance.

HEA provides diabetes and health education at sites in Eureka, Fortuna and Arcata. Diabetes is a chronic disease which is primarily self-managed. When successfully managed the risk for potential complications from diabetes is greatly reduced. HEA provides people with the information, guidance and support needed for self-management. If you would like more information about our educational programs you can call 443-0124 or visit our web site at www.hea.hdnipa.com.

Tour the co-op to check labels

Join me on a tour of the Arcata Co-op as we stroll the store and learn how to more effectively read product labels to control what we eat.

The tour will begin in the Arcata Co-op conference room to first review the basic principles of label reading. We will then go downstairs for an aisle-by-aisle tour where participants will have the opportunity to learn first hand how to make the best food choices for themselves and family members.

Tours will be held Thursday, Oct. 26, and Friday, Nov. 17, from 3-5 p.m. at the Arcata Co-op. You can call the Health Education Alliance at 443-0124 for more information about these services.