Bobbie O'Brien
Dorie Griggs
Liisa Hyvarinen Temple
Michelle VanHuss
Tracie Ciambotti
Jackie Dorr
Photo courtesy of the VA MOVE website.
The Veterans Administration estimates that nearly 1 in 4 veterans being treated at the VA has diabetes. That’s compared to about 8 percent of the general population with diabetes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The higher rate among veterans is attributable, in part, to the older average age of veterans being treated by the VA.
Obesity is one of the risk factors for diabetes and the VA estimates that 70 of veterans in their care are overweight. So, the VA offers veterans a weight management program, MOVE.
Some other risk factors associated with diabetes:
- Family history of diabetes
- Pre-diabetes (high fasting blood glucose — ask your doctor)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Low “good cholesterol” (HDL) and high triglycerides
- Presence of heart or other vascular disease
- Very low physical activity
You can read more about the VA research on diabetes and prevention programs HERE.
Filed under: Health - Physical and Mental, Veterans, Veterans Administration, Women Veterans | Tagged: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Diabetes mellitus, Obesity, postaday2011, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans diabetes |
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