Diabetes trend shows change is possible
A diabetic tests his blood sugar level on Jan. 3, 2009. The cost of diabetes medications is expected to continue rising over the next three years at a pace of 18.3 percent annually. Credit: AP / Joerg Sarbach
1.4 million: That’s the number of new Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes cases diagnosed in 2014, and what makes it newsworthy is that it’s a decline of about a fifth from the 1.7 million new cases diagnosed in 2008. Experts aren’t entirely sure if it means prevention efforts are working or the disease just peaked in the population, but it does go along with some other good news coming out recently. Studies show soda and calorie consumption on the decline in the United States, and physical activity increasing, and it’s all a good reminder that positive change is possible.
