36 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • JULY 6, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Survey: Many adults with diabetes unaware of
their increased risk for certain serious illnesses
Today, nearly 30 million people in the
U.S. are living with diabetes, and 90-95
percent have type 2 diabetes. According
to the American Diabetes Association,
about 1.4 million new cases of diabetes
are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. ,
Diabetes increases the risk for certain
serious illnesses including pneumococcal
pneumonia/pneumococcal disease,
fl u and hepatitis B. However, many
adults 18+ with diabetes were unaware
of their increased risk for these illnesses,
according to a recent national, online
consumer awareness survey sponsored
by the American Diabetes Association
and Merck. Th e survey was conducted by
Harris Poll among approximately 1,000
U.S. adults age 18+ who have ever been
diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
While published data show that adults
with diabetes are approximately three
times more likely to develop pneumococcal
disease compared to healthy adults
of the same age, only about 1 in 3 survey
respondents who have diabetes (35%)
believed they were at least somewhat personally
likely to get pneumococcal pneumonia/
pneumococcal disease. Survey
respondents were about twice as likely
to recognize the potential for adults
with diabetes to develop kidney disease
(72%) and heart disease (67%) than infectious
diseases-such as pneumococcal disease
(36%)-compared to adults without
diabetes.
Th is lack of awareness is signifi cant-the
survey also found that discussion of these
diseases was not oft en enough initiated
by HCPs (doctors or pharmacists) or
patients themselves within the past year.
“Th ese data illustrate that patients with
diabetes are not fully aware of their risk
of other serious illnesses, and that there
is a critical communication gap between
patients and their health care providers
about the risks for serious illness, including
pneumococcal pneumonia or pneumococcal
disease, fl u and hepatitis B for
adults with diabetes. Because people with
diabetes have increased risks for these
diseases and more complicated medical
courses when they contract them, health
care providers should seek to initiate
discussions with patients to bridge the
information gap, as recommended in our
Standards of Care,” said the American
Diabetes Association’s Immediate-Past
Chief Scientifi c & Medical Offi cer Robert
E. Ratner, MD.
Open communication with their health
care professionals can help people living
with diabetes learn more about their risk
for certain serious illnesses. Th e American
Diabetes Association’s Standards of Care
in Diabetes advises healthcare professionals
to talk with patients who have diabetes
about these illnesses. For more information
about pneumococcal pneumonia,
fl u or hepatitis B, talk to your healthcare
professionals, and visit www.diabetesforecast.
org/knowyourrisk.
Th is information was provided by
Merck
Th is survey was conducted online by
Harris Poll, on behalf of Merck and the
American Diabetes Association, from
April 12-26, 2016, among 1,003 U.S.
adults age 18 and older who have ever
been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes;
not employed by a federal, state,
county or local government agency/
facility; does not personally work/have
a household member who works in a
competing industry; and is not currently
involved in a medical clinical trial. Data
were not weighted and are only representative
of those who completed the survey.
Courtesy BPT
