20.8 million, roughly 7% of Americans were diagnosed with diabetes as of 2005. It is now 2008 and those numbers have likely risen. Of those 20.8 million, 6.2 million go undiagnosed and untreated. Diabetes is generally thought of as a disease only older people suffer when in fact over 176,000 under the age of 20 are diagnosed with 1.5 million new cases diagnosed each year for people over the age of 20.

Approximately 20.6 million over the age of 20 and 10.3 million over the age of 60 have diabetes. Of those, males comprise 10.9 million and females 9.7 million.

Although often not taken seriously, Diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2002 contributing to a total of 224,092 deaths. The risk for death among people with diabetes is about twice that of people without diabetes of similar age.

Diabetes increases the risk of complications from heart disease and stroke by approximately 65%. 73% of adults with diabetes also suffer complications from high blood pressure. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20 to 74 years.
44% of new cases of kidney failure were reported in 2002 as a direct complication associated with Diabetes.Diabetes is also related to nerve damage such as pain in the hands or feet, decreased digestion of food, carpal tunnel syndrome and other nervous system maladies. Severe forms of treated and untreated diabetic nerve disease are a major contributing cause of lower extremity amputations. The list goes on and on. THE COST OF MEDICAL CARE FOR DIABETES IN 2002: $132 BILLION.

OK, HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS, and it is really good!

A recent study at the University of Calgary found that aerobic or weight training improved blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, but wait there's more. The study proved that COMBINING the two was twice as good as aerobics or strength training alone. This type of exercise is known as circuit training and certified personal trainers have used the method for years to maximize the health benefits of the their clients.
A 1% drop in A1c levels, the number researchers use to determine blood sugar levels decreases risk of heart attack or stroke by 15 to 20% and blindness, kidney failure or amputations by 20 to 40%. Amazingly, these results were noted in as little as 90 days of starting a guided exercise program incorporating circuit style strength and cardiovascular conditioning. There could not be a more glowing recommendation to start and exercise program, NOW!

THE COST OF PARTICIPATING IN AN EXERCISE PROGRAM TO CONTROL DIABETES: PRICELESS.

If you would like to have a fitness related question answered in this column please email it to Bodylogix@bellsouth.net

Gary Peloquin LMT PFT is the Owner/Director of BodyLogix Fitness Inc.

He can be contacted at

BodyLogix Fitness & Performance Center. 1830 NE Dixie Hwy, Jensen Beach, Florida 34957 772-225-5555

Bodylogix@bellsouth.net

You can view BodyLogix Fitness at YourHub.com