Diabetes
Diabetes, a chronic disease, is caused by a body's inability to process or respond to insulin. Insulin is needed in the body to help convert glucose (sugar) into energy. The two main types of diabetes are Type I (insulin dependent) and Type II diabetes (non-insulin dependent). Although potentially serious, many of the complications associated with diabetes (blindness, kidney failure, amputations and heart attacks) can be prevented or delayed with proper management of the disease.
With over 171,000 people aware of their diabetes diagnosis and an equal number or more unaware that they have the disease, diabetes is a major public health issue for South Carolina. The disease has affected minorities, in particular. In South Carolina, minorities are nearly twice as likely as whites to be diagnosed with diabetes and three times as likely to die from complications.
Quick Facts
- According to CDC, South Carolina ranks ninth (9th) in the nation for deaths due to diabetes.
- Diabetes is the sixth (6th) leading cause of death in South Carolina.
- South Carolina ranks eighth (8th) in the nation for percentage of residents with diabetes.
- African Americans are twice as likely to have diabetes than are whites in the state.