Quote:
Originally posted by ThunderBalls
Gee, wonder what $87 billion could do to help this problem.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/977046.asp?0cv=CB10
CHICAGO, Oct. 7 ? One in three Americans born in the year 2000 will develop adult-onset diabetes, a worsening epidemic that disproportionately affects women and minorities, federal researchers said Tuesday.
RISING RATES of diabetes are directly related to the increasing incidence of obesity among Americans, said researcher K.M. Venkat Narayan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.
?The overwhelming reason why diabetes is increasing in the country is because there?s an epidemic of obesity,? Narayan said.
?Among Americans, a woman has a slightly higher risk, probably a 39 percent chance of developing diabetes in her lifetime, and minority groups, particularly Hispanics, have a one in two chance of developing diabetes,? he said.
The disease?s impact on blood vessels damages the body?s organs, can cause blindness, and often leads to kidney and heart disease ? and shaves between 10 and 15 years off a victim?s life.
Projecting trends based on health data covering 360,000 Americans from 1984 to 2000, the research estimated the number of people with diabetes will increase to more than 28 million in 50 years from 17 million currently.
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Unfortunately $87 billion would just make Americans fatter. They'd buy more toys, gadgets and food, to make themselves lazier and heavier.
I come from a family history of type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure and cancer. It is work to stay healthy, but it is not impossible. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. No matter how many diet products and health advisories America receives, we have become a nation of emotional eaters. Food is a drug. It's addictive and a slow killer if abused.
The pancreas only produces so much insulin over ones lifetime, we can find a cure for diabetes, but we need better solutions to the underlying problems of overeating as well. I am all for diabetes/cancer etc research. It would be WONDERFUL to help so many that need it, but in many cases type 2 is preventable and I think instead of statistics condemning 1/3 children, we should wake up and listen to the warnings. If 1/3 children born in 2000 were predicted to have AIDS, we would be isolating ourselves in quarantined homes. But because a lot of people don't take this seriously and do not value their life span, ignorance will prevail.
Of course juevenile diabetes is devastating and not a child's food abuse that caused it. That's horrible for any kid. Like any medical condition that isn't preventable, my heart breaks for people who suffer.
Although, I truly believe science has a cure for many diseases like diabetes and cancer. The prescription drug market would lose billions though, so they prevent the release. They can't (won't) even cure the common cold... Why? All those over the counter drugs and products eliminated. America and the world comes down to money. Nothing is more important than it and no amount of suffering is too much to get it. As long as money makes the world go round, human development will always be limited to what makes money and what doesn't. Sad but true.
PS. DRINK WATER!!! And diet beverages. 1 can of sugar soda a day can make you gain in excess of a 1/2 lb. a week. Water is the best thing you can EVER do for your body
