State of Illinois still fighting diabetes

Focus on Diabetes

On October 31, 2006, Governor Rod Blagojevich signed a proclamation designating November 2006 as "Diabetes Awareness Month."
Diabetes awareness and care in Illinois are making progress. The Illinois Department of Human Services' Diabetes Prevention and Control Program has met or exceeded four of its "Healthy People 2010" objectives related to diabetes:

To increase to 60 percent the proportion of persons with diabetes who receive formal diabetes education.
During 2005, 67.2 percent of individuals participating in the DHS Diabetes Prevention and Control Program received diabetes education.
To increase the proportion of adults with diabetes who perform self-blood-glucose-monitoring at least once daily to 60 percent.
A total of 64 percent of the participants of DHS Diabetes Prevention and Control Program monitor at least once daily.
To increase to 50 percent the proportion of adults with diabetes who have a glycosylated hemoglobin measurement at least once a year.
During 2005, 74.7 percent of individuals participating in the DHS Diabetes Prevention and Control Program had the measurement done at least one time during the year.
To increase the proportion of adults with diabetes who take aspririn at least 15 times per month.
The goal is 30 percent; currently 34 percent of people with diabetes are taking aspirin daily.

Although the DPCP is making progress, diabetes continues to be an epidemic. Diabetes is a leading cause of adult blindness, lower-limb amputation, kidney disease and nerve damage. Two-thirds of people with diabetes die from a heart attack or stroke.

There is still much to be done � increasing awareness of diabetes risk factors to increase early diagnosis and treatment; encouraging individuals to modify daily physical activity and eating habits to achieve and maintain a realistic weight; educating the public to embrace positive lifestyles, and to build healthy families and communities.