TIJUANA It's a trend health authorities on both sides of the border find alarming: The number of people with diabetes is soaring.
In Baja California, diabetes mellitus is one of the three main causes of death. In San Diego County, the disease is a leading contributor to death.
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Lidia Pérez, who runs a health program for adults and seniors with diabetes in Tijuana, Tecate and Rosarito Beach, said that around 3,400 people have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in that area.
However, Baja California health authorities think that these cases represent just 10 per cent of the total number who suffer from the disease in the state, but don't know it.
Diabetes is a chronic condition marked by high levels of blood glucose. The disease can lead to blindness, kidney failure, strokes and heart attacks. It's associated with lack of physical activity, being overweight and high blood pressure.
Pérez said that in the three cities she covers, 4,000 adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and some 1,500 with obesity – and some of these adults have begun to develop diabetes.
"It's a disease that's linked to cultural issues in the country and to a fast-paced lifestyle that alters good eating habits which leads to a high consumption of carbohydrates and fat," the specialist said.
The Baja California health system offers a free treatment program in all of its health centers and public hospitals for people with diabetes, high blood pressures and obesity. The program includes monthly talks with experts who teach healthy diets and lifestyle changes to decrease risk factors, Pérez said.
She said it's essential to raise awareness of diabetes given that when untreated it can lead to other chronic, even deadly, diseases.
An estimated 8 million people suffer from diabetes in Mexico, a country with one of the highest diabetes rates in the world.
The American Diabetes Association estimates that 25.8 million children and adults have diabetes in the United States, a staggering 8.3 percent of the nation's population, which includes 18.8 million who have been diagnosed, and 7 million who have not yet been. The association reports that as many as 79 million more have prediabetes symptoms.
Omar.millan@sandiegored.com
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The American Diabetes Association offers information in English and Spanish about the disease and how to reduced the risk factors linked to it.
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