HELENA – Throughout the month of November, organizations across the country are working to raise awareness around diabetes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. The number of adults diagnosed has tripled in the last 20 years, and in Montana, DPPHS states 64,000 adults currently have diagnosed diabetes.
Doctor Brian Robinson, endocrinologist with St. Peter’s Health in Helena, said obesity and diabetes are linked. Robinson said part of the blame can be placed on high calorie foods common in American diets.
“Throughout the world and in the U.S. and in Montana, high caloric foods are becoming more affordable and people are moving more from a lower social class to a more middle social class where food is more affordable,” Robinson said. “People are gaining weight and therefore diabetes is becoming more prevalent.”
Dr. Robinson said small positive changes can add up to big health improvements. Walking short distances instead of driving and breaking up a large meal into two are a couple things you can do to prevent diabetes onset.
Click here to learn more about diabetes.
-Reported by Jacob Fuhrer/MTN News
