Officials address county’s diabetes problem

Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006

by Sherry Greenfield

Staff Writer

In 2004, diabetes was the fifth leading cause of death in Frederick County, according to the county Health Department.

Surveys conducted from 1995 to 1999 and again from 2000 through 2004 show a 44 percent increase in the number of residents with diabetes in the region.

Diabetes risk
1 in 3 Americans will contract the disease in their lifetime
2 in 5 African Americans and Hispanics 1 in 2 Hispanic
women Source: Ce
nters for Disease Control & Prevention

Unfortunately, for them and the countless others who suffer with symptoms and are unaware they have the disease, there is little in the way of resources and help in the county.

‘‘Is diabetes a problem in Frederick County?” said Angela Blair, community health educator with the health department’s Division of Nursing. ‘‘I say yes.”

Blair made her comments at the first meeting of the health department’s new diabetes coalition Tuesday at Frederick Community College.

With a grant of roughly $5,500 from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the 34-member coalition met Tuesday to address the seriousness of the disease and the need for resources, education and awareness of the problem in Frederick County.

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal, causing sugar to build up in the body. If not treated, the disease can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower-extremity amputations.

‘‘Diabetes is a major disease and a complicated and serious disease,” Blair said. ‘‘My objective is to examine the impact of the disease... One out of three Americans have diabetes. That gets my attention and I’m sure it gets your attention.”

Barbara A. Brookmyer, health officer for the county, spoke early in the daylong session. In a letter to each member of the coalition she also expressed her concerns.

‘‘Consider the fact that in the United States in 2002, indirect costs alone due to diabetes stood at $40 billion,” Brookmyer said. ‘‘We know that diabetes is growing by epidemic proportions but through our collective efforts we can alter this trend.”

A good part of Tuesday’s forum was spent developing goals to better educate the public on diabetes prevention, reducing the risk factors and offering help to those suffering with the disease. Suggestions included better education, stressing the importance of diet and exercise and reducing alcohol and smoking. It was clear from the forum that county agencies and health professionals are not doing enough to address the debilitating disease.

Audrey X. Young, a biology student at Hood College, conducted a survey between November and January, of Frederick Memorial Hospital, doctors, pharmacies, schools, insurance companies, corporations and nonprofit agencies. She asked each about services, literature and information they provide about diabetes. According to Young, 18 of the 29 entities provide services for diabetics and 13 of the 29 provided literature on the disease. None provided information on prevention. Two of 29 surveyed said they are planning to better inform the public about the disease and one will implement a special prevention program.

‘‘Clearly we need to do more to educate people in our community,” Blair said.