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State recognizes need for diabetes prevention plan
High risk for type 2 diabetes blamed on sedentary habits
By Zachary Warmbrodt
Half of Texas children born after the year 2000 will develop diabetes unless the state changes its prevention strategies, said Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. Eduardo Sanchez in his keynote speech at the Diabetes Summit on Friday.
"This could be the first generation of Texans whose life expectancy is shorter than their parents," said Sanchez. "It's our fault." In his speech at the summit sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, Sanchez focused on the state's growing numbers of obese and diabetic people, especially children, and blamed sedentary habits and sleep deprivation. He illustrated an alarming picture of the next generation of Texans, many of whom have already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes - caused mainly by obesity and considered largely preventable - as children. About 1.3 million Texans have been diagnosed with diabetes and a third of Texans have diabetes but don't know it, Sanchez said. Predictions show that 33 percent of males and 40 percent of females born after 2000 will develop diabetes, he said. Sanchez also said a racial disparity exists: One-third of white children born today will develop diabetes, while two out of five blacks and half of Hispanics will. "There are some amongst us who believe obesity is a personal choice," said Sanchez. "While I won't disagree with you when it comes to adults - there's absolutely a personal component to it - I think you have to agree we can only blame ourselves for the fact that children in this country are the fattest children in the world." He called for a greater investment in public health services to help prevent obesity, adding that, historically, the average life expectancy has been affected more by public health projects instead of direct medical treatment. Dr. Adolfo Valadez, medical director for the Travis County Health and Human Services Department and summit co-chair, said diagnoses of diabetes in Travis County have increased almost 40 percent since 1998. About 7 percent of Travis county residents have diabetes, Valadez said. The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely.
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