Wendy Bailey, Trainer and Educator for the Diabetes and Heart Disease Prevention and Control Programs with the Delaware Health and Social Services Office of Public Health, discussed the state’s response to the growing number of residents with diabetes or at high risk of developing the disease. Currently 13% of the population have been diagnosed, while another 12 to 13% are pre-diabetic. She discussed the different types of diabetes, including Type 1 where the pancreas produces no insulin, Type 2 where the body cannot process insulin, and Gestational Diabetes that can occur during pregnancy but adds an increased risk of developing the disease later. Many do not know they are at risk and only learn of their condition when they are under care for the symptoms. For low income and other under-served communities the risks and rates are higher. Discovering your risk factors, including lifestyle choices and genetics, are key to preventing the chronic and progressive disease or getting you treatment early to avoid serious complications including heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, neuropathy and even amputation. Delaware offers self-management programs for people diagnosed with pre-diabetes as well as diabetes that can help you live with the disease. The peer program helps patients learn about healthy eating and exercise, new habits than help the entire family manage their risk. The department also hosts an emergency fund to help low-income patients with co-pays and supplies for the costly disease. To learn more about programming go to HealthyDelaware.org
