Diabetes Survey Reveals Significant Lack Of Awareness
If you think you know the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, you may be in for a surprise.
Experts say nearly 80 percent of Americans do not know the differences between the two dangerous and deadly diseases.
This was one of the key findings of a recent nationwide survey that demonstrated the need for increased public education about the disease.
The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by Medtronic, Inc., showed that almost half of respondents were also unaware that two distinct forms of diabetes existed.
"The diabetes community has speculated for some time about the public's poor understanding of type 1 diabetes. These survey results unfortunately confirm our fears," said Francine Kaufman, M.D., director of the Comprehensive Childhood Diabetes Center and head of the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
The results of the survey reinforce how little Americans understand about the challenges experienced by the more than 1 million people with type 1 diabetes. To help, a new Web site was created, RealDiabetesControl.com, to provide easy-to-understand information about diabetes and the therapies available to patients.
"The public needs to understand that type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease that occurs most often in children, as well as adults. It has nothing to do with diet or lack of exercise, and its treatment is often very different from that of type 2, requiring daily intensive insulin therapy to maintain a normal quality of life," said Dr. Kaufman.
The survey also found that nearly 70 percent of people incorrectly believed a cure existed for type 1 diabetes. The majority of people thought proper diet (25 percent), weight loss (18 percent), exercise (22 percent), insulin (16 percent) or other medication (12 percent) were ways patients could cure their type 1 diabetes.
These misunderstandings confirm many of the myths people associate with the disease. They also draw attention away from the need for intensive insulin management for type 1 patients to reduce the likelihood of long-term complications. Some of the most advanced treatment options available for patients include insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems.
In order to dispel the myths of type 1 diabetes and raise awareness of available treatment options, Medtronic is also funding a series of educational events across the nation this summer. These local events will educate interested individuals about type 1 diabetes and how treatments can improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients.
For more information about the latest treatment options available to improve patients' diabetes control or to find a list of educational events in your area, please visit RealDiabetesControl.com or call (800) 971-5818.
Please Rate this Article
Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Diabetes Articles Via RSS!
