Diabetes risks are spreading in California, and all across North America

Coming up: Diabetes serious problem in S.J. County

Published Monday, Jun 26, 2006

You were bad and had two donuts for breakfast. A co-worker suggested Chinese food for lunch. The kids wanted hot dogs and macaroni for dinner, and there were ice cream bars in the freezer for dessert.

Broccoli, which usually goes bad, is $3 per pound, and it’s not safe to walk in the neighborhood after dark. Besides, that new TV show you wanted to watch starts tonight.

You feel fine. But are you?

More than 2 million Californians suffer from diabetes, a disease that causes sugars to block blood paths to the brain, heart and other vital organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many die from strokes, heart attacks and complete kidney failure. About 90 percent of all cases could have been prevented by proper nutrition and regular exercise.

In San Joaquin County, the death rate from diabetes is 75 percent higher than the state average. That’s what earned it a ranking of 55 out of all 58 counties in California for diabetes-related deaths, according to the 2006 County Health Status Profiles released by the California Department of Health Services.

Between 2002 and 2004, an average of one in every 3,876 county residents died from diabetes-related illnesses. Tuesday’s Record continues its 10-part series on San Joaquin County’s failing health with a look at this life-threatening disease.