Diabetes Solutions

Many people consider diabetes to be a pandemic, but because death certificates usually don't read: heart attack from diabetic complications or stroke from diabetic complications, it  has been a silent killer. This shows the increase and projected increase in the United States. 

SOURCE: Data for 1960–1998 from the National Health Interview Survey, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projected data for 2000–2050 from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Division of Diabetes Translation, CDC. (Note: The “Diagnosed cases” arrow refers to the section of the figure that includes diagnosed cases of diabetes versus the section that includes projected cases. The line graph and not the line arrow indicate the number of diagnosed cases.)

It is not just an American problem.. This shows the predicted increase in diabetes worldwide by 2035 (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(13)70112-8/fulltext?version=printerFriendly&code=lancet-site)

While there  has been an increase in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes,   the majority (~90%) of the patients with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.  

Solutions 

We are going to devote a lab to learning about the medical, social and political solutions to this problem.  

Pre-Lab

• • • Do a guided reading of an  article that summarizes the medical treatments for Type 1 and 2 diabetes.
    • Read the Introduction to National Clinical Care Commission: Report to Congress on Leveraging Federal Programs to Prevent and Control Diabetes and Complications (2021)

Post-Lab

• • • After lab: sign up to read one of the sections of this report. 
    • After lab: Post your summary of the reading to the discussion
    • After lab: Post a comment to 3 students' postings.