High Lifetime Costs for Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes for the young and old has been an ongoing issue for Americans.  This article, “High Lifetime Costs for Diabetes 2,” from Science Daily talks about a study that was done to evaluate how much money patients need to spend if  they get diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in their lifetime.  Those who get diagnosed with diabetes at a younger age end up spending more money on supplies and medical expenses.  “The model revealed that a man diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between ages of 25 and 44 can be expected to incur related costs of $24,000 over his lifetime” (Science Daily).

Diabetes can be linked to obesity. Types 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed if a person is over weight. Insulin is used only as needed. Type 1 diabetes is insulin dependent. Insulin is needed daily. Also, a person must check their blood sugar before and after every meal.  The expensive supply used when having diabetes is the test strips. This is a global issue since diabetes increasing all over the world. If diabetes can be decreased, less money will be spent on it. 

"What will your verse be?"

As we finish up our work during this first portion of the quarter and gear up for midterms, I thought a story from NPR might be relevant, helpful, and comforting. Those around us in academia can be a source of inspiration, providing us a model of professionalism that is composed, confident, and something we hope to emulate. However, there may also be times when we feel as though we are impostors, that we do not belong, and that our contributions are not worthy. If our survey of the work in global health teaches us anything, I think it is the opposite: the task is huge, we need all hands on deck, YOU have a valuable, important perspective and we need to hear your voice.

KFF YouToons

One of your fellow students suggested this cartoon as a helpful review of ACA- enjoy! (Thanks Hanna!)

Global Aging and Future Trends

According to a global study just released by the United Nations(UN), “by the year 2050, for the first time in history, seniors older than 60 will outnumber children younger than 15”(as cited in Gelineau 2013). This unprecedented shift in global demographics has significant consequences for global health. Seniors have unique healthcare and lifestyle needs. Currently many countries around the world have social programs for the elderly(Gelineau 2013), but many developing countries do not have such programs and will need to implement policies before the demographic shift in the future.

How Will the U.S. Government's Shutdown Impact Global Health?

Just saw this article from Maryn McKenna in Wired outlining how a shutdown of the U.S. government will have massive impacts on health, locally & globally. It's pretty obvious, really: how can the 3 core functions of public health be achieved if the DHHS and FDA have sent home roughly 50% of their staff, and the CDC has furloughed 68% of its employees?

Who will keep the public healthy now?

image: BMills (CC), Flickr

Fighting Polio in Israel

Did anyone catch this story awhile back? Due to polio spreading through the sewage system in Israel, they're working overtime to vaccinate children under the age of 9. That's one billion children, folks!

David Buimovitch/AFP/Getty Images