Increased rates of diabetes and obesity are a reality in Oregon | News – NRToday.com

William Howell has seen first-hand the dangers of a disease that almost took his life. It is one that strikes slowly but is deadly, often leaving its victims permanently disabled if not treated. The disease causes high blood glucose levels due to a lack of insulin production.

Howell of Roseburg has struggled with Type 2 diabetes since the age of 26. He has been able to manage it through daily insulin shots.

But four years ago, Howell, then 51, fell into a severe coma. This was shortly after eating a dinner full of mashed potatoes, corn, steak and a glass of chocolate milk. Doctors wondered if he would recover.

I had too high of blood sugar, Howell said. I didnt even realize it. I was eating and drinking what I wanted and all of that contributed to it.

Howell, a 228-pound, 56-year-old man, lived a life full of drinking 2-liter bottles of soda daily and constantly eating sweets. Obesity and permanent blindness left him unable to do the activities he once enjoyed. In addition to insulin shots, he undergoes dialysis three days a week, exercises regularly and has a healthier diet.

He said an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and obesity played an important role in the onset of the disease.

If you dont want kidney dialysis and if you dont want to go blind, dont do the stuff thats not good for you and try living a healthier lifestyle, he said.

Increased rates of obesity and diabetes are ongoing problems in Douglas County, according to reports from the Oregon Health Authority. Diagnosed cases of diabetes increased by nearly 9 percentage points to 14.6 percent in 2015, while obesity increased by about 3 percentage points to 35.4 percent during the same time period, according to unadjusted data collected by OHA.

Unadjusted rates indicate the burden of a disease over a concentrated population in a single geographical area while age-adjusted rates are used among multiple populations that vary by age.

In response to these ongoing issues, the OHA awarded Douglas County a Healthy Communities grant of $64,695 to promote healthy living options for the community. This grant provides healthy nutritional food and physical activities at schools as well as Wellness at Work programs which include healthy food, exercise breaks and tobacco-free work sites, said Jonathan Modie, an OHA spokesman. It also provides healthy choices to churches and community centers with partners including Oregon Walks, AARP, YMCA and Mercy Medical Center.

Douglas Countys obesity and diabetes rates are higher than statewide data, suggest reports from OHA.

Oregons obesity rate increased by nearly 5 percentage points to 27.1 percent in 2015, according to age-adjusted data. During the same time period, the number of diagnosed cases of diabetes increased by about 5 percentage points to 8.6 percent. Out of the 50 states and Washington D.C., Oregon ranks in the bottom half in both categories 28th for obesity and 31st for diabetes.

These unsettling statistics not only indicate a rise in both diseases, but also how one may be a primary indicator of the other. The single best predictor of Type 2 diabetes is obesity, Modie said.

Health professionals have concerns about how these issues impact a patients overall long-term health.

Jill Boyce, a registered dietitian and the diabetes program coordinator at Cow Creek Health & Wellness Center, said diabetes can affect a persons mental, emotional and physical well-being.

As a dietitian, it is concerning to see this epidemic since obesity and diabetes are preventable, she said. It can impact not only themselves but also the people around them and increase their risk factors for other chronic diseases.

Boyce said the most prominent prevention of diabetes-related illness is education and awareness on making healthy food choices and learning the benefits of increased physical activity.

The Cow Creek Health and Wellness Centers Special Diabetes Program is a six to 12-month program aiding in the prevention of diabetes. It addresses statistics indicating that diabetes is more prevalent among Native Americans than many other racial and ethnic groups in America. So far its been discovered that the most prevalent type of diabetes among Native Americans, Type 2, can be kept at bay through exercise and healthy nutrition. This is also true among all populations.

To address statewide health issues, the OHAs Public Health Division currently funds Benton, Douglas, Lane, and Multnomah counties. In addition, it funds the Coquille Indian Tribe.

Its primary focus is toward eliminating physical inactivity and poor nutrition by addressing community-based activities such as increasing access to nutritious food, encouraging people to be more physically active and increasing access to self-sustainability programs. Additionally, OHA is partnering with healthcare payers to increase the availability of programs such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program and Chronic Disease Self-Management programs, said Modie.

Without making meaningful changes to make it easier for people to eat nutritious food, avoid unhealthy foods and move more, Oregon will not be able to decrease adult or youth obesity, he said. Addressing the pervasive marketing and promotion of unhealthy food and supporting communities to make long term changes to build environments where physical activity is an essential part of everyones life.

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Increased rates of diabetes and obesity are a reality in Oregon | News - NRToday.com