Diabetes in Hawaii
In Hawaii, about 442,000 adults, or 41.5% of the adult population, have prediabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Diabetes Report Card 2017, 154,365 people in Hawaii, or 13.1% (1 out of every 9 individuals) of the adult population, have diabetes. Research at JABSOM has shown that 22.4% of Native Hawaiians are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus; another 15% have been diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance or pre-diabetic status and are therefore at increased risk of developing diabetes. Also disproportionately affected are Pacific Islanders and other minority populations. People with diabetes are at greater risk of developing health complications such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, eye disease, kidney disease and amputation. Every year an estimated 8,000 people in Hawaii are diagnosed with diabetes.
“Health in Hawaii: Good News, But Not for Everyone” describes diabetes as a growing health threat in Hawaii and explores how we can fight it. This latest report from the Hawaii Business Magazine, based on a framework created by the Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF), focuses on health and wellness in Hawaii. “The CHANGE framework acknowledges the interconnected nature of community issues and zeroes in on six essential areas that constitute the overall well-being of these islands and people,” HCF says. “By examining critical community indicators by sector, we can identify gaps where help is specifically needed and opportunities where help will do the most good.”
“Blood Sugar Rising” follows the diabetes epidemic in the U.S. Diabetes and pre-diabetes affects over 100 million people in the country, costing more than $325 billion each year. This NOVA documentary puts human faces to these statistics, exploring the history and science of the illness through portraits of Americans whose stories shape the film.
Useful links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
American Diabetes Association
Hawaii Office
Diabetes – Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Division
Healthy Hawaii Initiative
Prevent Diabetes Campaign
State of Hawaii, Department of Health