By Lori Ehde
The number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the United States has increased by nearly 50 percent in the past 10 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC further reports that 6 percent of the population has diabetes and the number of diagnoses continues to rise.
According to local health officials, the population in Rock County and southwest Minnesota reflect similar numbers.
"It's an epidemic," said registered dietitian Marg Kuiper. "It used to be we'd diagnose it in people 60 or older. Now, we're finding it in people 40 or younger."
Part of the reason for increasing diagnoses is poor health habits of Americans - particularly obesity and lack of exercise.
But heightened awareness of diabetes is another major reason for increased diagnoses ... and that's a good thing, Kuiper said.
"Cases that may have gone undiagnosed until late stages are now being recognized early on," Kuiper said.
"The more prevention we can do, the more we'll keep people out of the hospital and keep illness at bay."
This all saves money in the long run, which is why Medicare now reimburses patients for diabetes education.
Kuiper and registered nurse Jamie Reisdorfer lead a diabetes education program for Luverne Community Hospital and Medical Center that's recently been certified by the American Diabetes Association.
That means Medicare insurance will pay for up to 10 hours of instruction with Kuiper and Reisdorfer.
"This is good news for our hospital and good news for our community," Kuiper said.
She said it benefits all diabetic patients, because most insurance companies follow Medicare's lead in terms of covering new services.
More important, educated diabetics are living longer, healthier lives.
"The tighter control they have over their blood sugar, the better control they'll have in reducing complications," Kuiper said.
Those can include blurred vision and blindness, heart disease, nervous system disease (numbness in extremities), high blood pressure and kidney failure.
"People with undiagnosed diabetes generally don't feel well," Kuiper said. "They feel better when they get their blood sugar under control."
Diabetes awareness often starts in the examining room, where more doctors are recognizing early signs and symptoms.
If patients are diagnosed with diabetes in the Luverne Medical Center, they're referred to Kuiper and Reisdorfer for education.
The 10 hours of information and education include classroom time, one-on-one appointments and follow-up phone calls.
The women have seen 32 patients since spring and another 10 are signed up for January.
While they are seeing a heavy load of diabetes cases, they say they're glad to make a difference.
"If people who have diabetes keep their numbers in their goal range, they can lead normal lives," Kuiper said. "That's the good news. They now have all the tools they need."
The Luverne medical community has offered diabetes education for years, but now it's presented in a more formal package.
The education is geared toward patients with Type 2 diabetes, which is diagnosed when the body doesn't produce enough insulin or isn't using it efficiently.
Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed when the body suddenly stops producing insulin, and the only treatment is insulin injections.