Health experts urge WV residents not to forget impact of diabetes during awareness month

As state residents and legislators look for methods and funding to alleviate the opioid epidemic in the state, it is also important not to neglect the diabetes burden in West Virginia, said Dr. Samantha Shawley-Brzoska, project coordinator for the West Virginia University School of Public Health’s Office of Health Services Research.

“We don’t want to forget about these types of chronic conditions that are still affecting our lives that haven’t went away,” she said.

Diabetes has a significant impact on individuals, with potential complications from the disease including heart disease, stroke, amputation, kidney disease, blindness and death, according to information from the American Diabetes Association.

In 2017, West Virginians with diabetes spent approximately $1.7 billion in direct medical expenses related to treatment. Another $640 million was spent on indirect costs from loss of productivity, according to American Diabetes Association statistics.

“They’ve also proven that medical expenses are 2/3 higher for those who have diabetes versus those who do not,” Shawley-Brzoska said. “From my experience on dealing with individuals or participants within these programs, they do tend to have more doctor’s appointments related to their condition.”

Costs of the disease extend beyond the individual, however.

“There is an economic development factor with this. Companies do not open up new stores, new factories, whatever, in areas where you don’t … have a healthy workforce and where you don’t have health-care infrastructure,” said Debrin Jenkins, executive director of the West Virginia Rural Health Association.

Medicaid and Medicare resources are also used to treat the illness.

“What happens is, if you’re low income and you don’t have family … and you have a stroke and can’t care for yourself anymore, you go to a nursing home and the state picks up that cost,” Jenkins said.

The issue is only getting worse, the professionals said.

“There’s a silent epidemic that’s happening that no one seems to realize,” Jenkins said. “We’re seeing young children, 8 to 10 years old, who are prediabetic or diabetic. What that means is, in 15-20 years, they’re going to start having, especially if it’s untreated, glaucoma problems, they’re going to start losing limbs. If the state thinks there’s an epidemic now with diabetes, once these children grow up, they’re really going to see an epidemic and they’re really going to see the cost associated with treating diabetes.”

There are a number of reasons why the diabetes disease burden is increasing in the United States and in West Virginia. Factors include access to health care, high tobacco use rates, obesity, isolation and availability of healthy foods and exercise opportunities.

“We found that North Central West Virginia has more access (to health-care resources) than the southern part of the state, but overall … access to care is (an issue) everywhere,” Shawley-Brzoska said. “Some of the bigger cities may have more to offer, but the majority of communities do not have these things available. There’s tons of researchers doing lots of programs, but if they can’t get to programs, I doubt they’re going to be able to fill the need for that population.”

Access to healthy food options is also a factor.

“There’s not a lot of fresh food available for people. ... We tracked where all fast food joints were. There were 1,200 of those as opposed to farmers markets, which had less than 100,” Jenkins said.

Healthy food options also tend to be more expensive, making them less attractive to families with limited economic resources, she said.

There is reason for hope, however.

Organizations like WVU and the W.Va. Rural Health Association are working on databases of resources for individuals with diabetes.

There is also data to suggest tobacco use is decreasing and West Virginians are exercising more, Jenkins said.

“I’m very hopeful because West Virginians are resilient and tough,” Jenkins said. “I just know that we can do it. I want people who are controlling funds or policies to start listening to West Virginians. We know what to do.”