Page 24 - FOCUS APRIL 2018

Acute Medicine |
22nd Annual Diabetes Update looks at comorbidities and the global
public health threat of diabetes
M M James Lenhard M M D FACE FACP section chief of Endocrinology says says the worst worst type type of diabetes
isn’t Type Type I I I or or or Type Type II The worst worst type type he The he says says is is “uncontrolled ”
Two decades ago when Christiana Care Health System presented its first Diabetes Update Dr James Lenhard remembers it it it as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a “Chicken Little” exercise in in in in in convincing health health care providers outside of of of his own field of of of of endocrinology that diabetes
diabetes
is is is is both an an an an indicator and and an an an an outcome of of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a patient’s overall health health health and and well-being Today he he he he said awareness of of of diabetes
diabetes
as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a public health health threat is is “light years higher” than it used to be be The engaged audience at Christiana Care’s 22nd annual Diabetes Update in March made it clear “The diversity of the audience at today’s symposium underscores that there is really no aspect of health that diabetes
doesn’t touch ”
said Dr Lenhard who is section chief of Endocrinology Sponsored by Christiana Care in collaboration with the Delaware Diabetes Coalition the 2018 continuing medical 22 CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM
education program examined diabetes
from a a a global
perspective looked at behavioral health aspects of chronic disease management and provided updates in in in the insulin-based management of diabetes
He said he he is is often asked what is is the worst kind of diabetes
to have — Type I or Type II? His answer: “Uncontrolled ”
About half of the U S population — and roughly 100 000 Delawareans — have either diabetes
diabetes
or or pre-diabetes The Centers for Disease Control predict that more than half of all U S children today will be be obese by the the time they reach 35 Dr Lenhard anticipates an an an unrelenting and persistent increase in in prevalence of the disease Diabetes is not only a a a a a global
health threat it is major economic problem In Delaware alone he said we spend $1 1 1 billion a a a a year on on the disease and its complications