A recent study reveals that many Americans are unaware that they are at risk of type 2 diabetes.
The findings of the study are based on a survey conducted on more than 1,400 people aged 40 and above and 600 U.S. health care providers.
The study conducted by the American Diabetes Association reveals that around 40 percent of the participants denied that they carried any risk of developing type 2 Diabetes. Only 30 percent admitted to having high chances of getting diabetes later.
Type 2 diabetes is an increasing cause of concern among American adults as more people are being diagnosed with the disease. An earlier study done in 2012 revealed that around 22.3 million in the U.S. are suffering from either type 1 or 2 diabetes; a significant increase from 17.5 million in 2007.
The rise in diabetes, especially type 2, is due to the unhealthy eating habits of Americans and their negligence in taking precautions against it. Less than half of the participants in the survey said they did not go for regular checks ups to test blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, nor did their health practitioner advise them about it.
Only 25 percent of at-risk people were aware of the seriousness of the disease and its long term effects, said the health care providers. In fact most of the people at risk of type 2 diabetes had very little knowledge about what exactly leads to diabetes and around 80 percent thought they were in excellent health.
According to the researchers, health care providers said that most at risk patients ignored the lifestyle changes suggested due to ignorance about the link between the disease and unhealthy lifestyle.
"It is critical for health care providers to ensure that patients understand the link between risk factors and diabetes development, said Virginia Peragallo-Dittko, chairwoman of American Diabetes Association's prevention committee and executive director of the Diabetes and Obesity Institute at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, New York, reports medical express.
Type 2 Diabetes can lead to serious health concerns like heart or kidney failure and can even cause infections resulting in leg or foot amputations. Approximately 246,000 people have died due to diabetes in 2012 in the U.S., reveals the American Diabetes Association.
