KING COUNTY, WA - According to the most recent mortality data available, the local death rate from diabetes has increased significantly since the late 1980s. In 1997 (the most recent year for which data are available), diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death; 825 King County deaths were from diabetes or from complications of diabetes. With early detection and appropriate treatment, many of these deaths could have been prevented.
Death rates from diabetes in King County have increased sharply.
Over the last 10 years, the diabetes death rate has increased about 25% overall, and has increased most sharply in the African-American population, where it increased over 50%.
African-Americans and Native Americans are at higher risk of dying from diabetes.
Averaged over the last 10 years, the age-adjusted death rate in King County for African-Americans was over three times the rate for the total County population. For Native Americans, the rate was almost double the County as a whole. Death rates for Asians were lower than the County average, while death rates for Hispanics were not statistically elevated.
The diabetes prevalence rates for people over 40 years of age in King County can be broken down, as follows: Native Americans, 16%; African-Americans, 12%; Asians, 5%, Hispanics, 5%; Caucasians, 4%.
As one strategy to combat this disease locally, the SKCDPH is joining forces with the American Diabetes Associates (ADA) during March for its annual nation-wide campaign the Americans Diabetes Alert. This campaign challenges King County residents to take the ADA's simple Diabetes Risk Test (see attachment). The goal of this effort is to help people at high risk for diabetes to obtain screening and treatment, as necessary, from their doctor. Early detection can help to prevent or delay chronic complications.
"Everyone should take the Diabetes Risk Test to learn their risk for having diabetes," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director, Seattle-King County Department of Public Health. "If they have increased risk, then they should talk to their doctor about it."
Diabetes is a serious disease caused by a decreased ability to produce the hormone insulin (Type 1) or an impaired response to insulin (Type 2). Of all diabetics, 90% have Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes affects the way the body uses food for energy, important because the body depends on food to function (e.g., thinking, walking, running). Diabetes can be a "silent" disease in that many people do not have symptoms, so screening is very important.
Risk factors for diabetes include family history of diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, and a high fat and low fiber diet.
SKCDPH provides diabetes screening and care for low-income and elderly King County residents at three of its health centers: North Seattle, Downtown Seattle, and Eastgate. In addition, SKCDPH's Healthy Eating for Healthy Aging program, a nutrition education program for King County's elderly focuses on diabetes prevention and control.
