HJAR Nov/Dec 2021

38 NOV / DEC 2021 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS DIRECTOR’S DESK ALOGUE COLUMN SECRETARY’S CORNER DIABETES is among the top health condi- tions that put people at more significant risk of being hospitalized or even dying due to COVID-19. The best way to prevent that risk is for people to manage their diabetes or take steps to prevent it. These are steps people do not have to take alone. The Ar- kansas Department of Health has resources available to help people with diabetes or prediabetes, but the ADH needs the help of healthcare providers to raise awareness. Diabetes is a complex problem and the seventh leading cause of death inArkansas. It is a condition in which a person’s body cannot properly manage its insulin levels to provide cells the right amount of blood What You Need to Know About DIABETES IN ARKANSAS One in six Arkansas adults age 18 and older has diabetes, a serious and costly chronic illness. sugar for energy. This can lead to serious complications, including heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 where there is a complete absence of insulin, and Type 2 where insu- lin resistance is developed over time. About 90-95% of people with diabetes have Type 2. There is no cure, but a person’s diet and physical activity play a huge role in develop- ing Type 2 diabetes. People need to act early to prevent getting diabetes. TheADH recom- mends people who are at risk of diabetes try the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). One in three people have prediabetes, and 90% of them do not know they have it. Peo- ple have prediabetes when their blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet for an official diagnosis. People at risk include anyone who is overweight, has a family history of diabetes, is not physically active and has hypertension. The DPP pro- gram is a structured lifestyle program that focuses on healthy eating and physical ac- tivity, including how to grocery shop, how to cook and what foods to avoid or substitute. This type of program has been found to cut a person’s chances of getting diabetes by 58%, whereas a person placed on Metformin (a medication for prediabetes) has their risk lowered by 38%. Help is also available for anyone diag- nosed with diabetes. The ADH encourages