The research, culled from state health survey data, finds 7.8% of adult Californians had diabetes in 2007, compared with 6.2% in 2001. Thirty-four percent are overweight, and 23% obese.

All racial and ethnic groups experienced increases, though rates among American Indians, African-Americans and Latinos were disproportionately large. Both conditions were also more common among the poor, but all income groups as well saw increases.

The striking numbers illustrate the need for radical measures, the study’s authors say.

“When so many people of different ages, income and educational levels, and cultural backgrounds are struggling with obesity and diabetes, it suggests that going on a diet is not enough,” said co-author Allison Diamant in a press release announcing the results. “We need to take a hard look at the environmental and structural factors that contribute to these conditions.”

Among the study’s recommendations are increasing access to recreational facilities and parks, promoting policies to foster farmers markets and generally improve access to healthy food.

Diabetes is estimated to cost the state $24 billion annually, with $17 billion spent on direct medical care and $7 billion on indirect costs associated with the disease.

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Hospitalizations involving diabetic care tended to be 25% more expensive than admissions of patients without diabetes. The mean length of stay for patients with diabetes was almost one day longer than for those without the disease. Medicare paid 60% of the hospital stays for diabetics, while Medicaid paid 10%.

The lowest rate of diabetes-related hospitalizations was in the West, where such cases accounted for nearly 1.9% of admissions. The South, at 2.8%, had the highest rate.

The research did not break down the statistics according to diabetes types.

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Rosalind Franklin calls the study the first of its kind. Nearly 29,000 patients with diabetes, ages 18 to 64, were included in the analysis.

“Podiatrists are detecting conditions that can lead to amputation; that’s just what we do,” said study co-author James Wrobel in a news release announcing the research’s results.

The study demonstrates the need for more coordinated diabetes patient care, Wrobel also said. In 10 states, however, Medicaid programs do not reimburse for podiatric care, according to the news release. Arizona will join the list effective Oct. 1.

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According to the FDA, the company didn’t follow quality control procedures and didn’t correct problems it identified properly, such as scratches found on FreeStyle Lite blood sugar testing strips. Furthermore, the company said it found key personnel at the company were not qualified for their posts.

The company said it has taken steps to correct the problems and is communicating its actions with the FDA.

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Earlier this year the regulator asked Mannkind for additional information and the company responded by submitting clinical data on the effectiveness of the drug on Type 1 diabetics from a study. It also submitted additional safety data. (See MannKind Touts Effectiveness, Safety of New Inhalable Insulin)

The company expects to hear from the regulator by the end of the year on the new application.

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Blair County Diabetes Diplomats

The kids were nominated by Lisa Treese because of their participation in the Blair County diabetes diplomat program at the area elementary schools. The kids were “teachers” for the day, took questions from the students and represented kids with diabetes proudly!

Noah Brookmeier, aka the “Diabetes Dude”

Noah was nominated by Tracy Brokmeier, who said that since Noah was diagnosed in 2007 he has “spent every spare moment raising diabetes awareness in our community.” Not only has Noah participated in walks to raise money for the American Diabetes Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Children’s Hospital of Boston.

Noah also made headlines when he started a fundraising campaign to raise money for the ADA called the “flamingo flock,” which involves placing random plastic blue flamingos on neighbors’ laws along with a note in order to raise awareness. His campaign is now going national with help of friends, family and fans. (See ‘Diabetic Dude’ Uses Blue Flamingos to Raise Awareness)

Andrew Clifford

Andrew was nominated by his mom Patti because he is an amazing caregiver “who learned the need of awareness in a very rough way.” When Andrew’s dad, Mark-John Clifford was first diagnosed with diabetes, Andrew was very scared and unaware of what this disease was. “His extreme love and worry for Mark-John turned into a twenty-four/seven job,” says Patti. “Andrew was devoted to worry of Mark-John, constantly checking on him, asking ‘How you feeling? Are you ok? Do you need anything?’

Nominations for the next Awards will begin August 1, 2010 and the Winners announced during World Diabetic Kid’z Day celebration the first weekend in November.

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For nearly a year, I was treated as a Type 2 and my blood sugar numbers suffered. Finally I went to an endocrinologist and was told that I didn’t have Type 2 diabetes. However, I did have Type 1.5 diabetes, or latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). Essentially, its like Type 1 diabetes, but instead of developing in kids, it hits patients later in life. For me, this date came at the age of 23.

Once I started Diabetes News Hound and began interacting on diabetes-centric social networking sites more frequently, I learned there were a lot of people that had a similar story to mine. In fact, researchers estimate that between 7.5% and 10% of adults that are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, actually have Type 1.5, according to a recent article in The West Australian. Type 1.5 can often masquerade as Type 2 because those diagnosed with Type 1.5 often do not need to take insulin shots at the time of diagnose. The article says patients begin taking shots anywhere from anywhere between three and twelve years after diagnosis. I began taking them as soon as I was correctly diagnosed.

Type 2 diabetes is often thought to have a link with obesity, although slim people can also develop that form of the disease. With Type 1.5, many fit folks are developing the disease. In one case noted in the article, a fit 60-year old woman was incorrectly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Eight years later she was told she had Type 1.5 after her heath began to deteriorate.

The symptoms of diabetes – Type 1, Type 2, or Type 1.5 – usually include unquenchable thirst, frequent urination or the constant urge to urinate, dehydration, problems sleeping, unexplained weight loss and often a flu-like feeling. A blood test can confirm a patient has Type 1.5 diabetes.

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Lack of circulation is a major danger for people with diabetes, because poor circulation can lead to eventual amputations of toes, feet, legs or hands. Nearly 15% of the 28 million people with diabetes in the U.S. will develop foot ulcers and many of them will require doctors to amputate the foot.

In the hyperbaric chamber, patients are exposed to pressurized oxygen for two hours a day, five days a week, for approximately two months. This will allow areas that have poor blood flow to absorb oxygen through their plasma. This helps patients grow new blood vessels, which aids in circulation and healing of wounds.

This method greatly improved patients’ chances of avoiding amputation. Nearly 89% of those in the study that were using the hyperbaric chamber therapy avoided amputation. Meanwhile, only 60% avoided amputation when given conventional treatment. This treatment is covered by many insurance companies, but shouldn’t be used for people with seizures or breathing problems.

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