Tom Hanks’ T2D Diagnosis Shines a Light on National Epidemic

Earlier this month, Tom Hanks, one of the highest grossing actors of all time, made an unexpected announcement on the Late Show with David Letterman. Hanks revealed that he had recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes following his decades long struggle with high blood sugar levels. This announcement helps to shine a light on a very serious issue facing this country: the national diabetes epidemic.

According to Robert Ratner, the chief scientific officer for the American Diabetes Association, there is not a shred of doubt that the prevalence of diabetes around the world has hit epidemic proportions. Other prominent figures like Drew Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Halle Berry, and Patti LaBelle have also been diagnosed with this disease.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

With type 2 diabetes, the body has become insulin resistant – i.e. it either does not make enough of the hormone, or it can’t use it properly. When this happens, sugar (glucose) begins to build up in the blood, damaging the blood vessels and the nerves. Type 2 diabetes currently accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all confirmed cases of diabetes.

In the United States alone, nearly 8.3 percent of the population (around 26 million children and adults) have developed diabetes. While this number is scary enough, experts theorize that as many as 80 million more people currently have prediabetes, which is just one step below type 2 diabetes. By the year 2050, you could be looking at a situation where one in every three Americans has developed diabetes.

Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes

Primary risk factors for type 2 diabetes include a family history of diabetes, age, and obesity. Diabetes clinical studies have also shown that certain ethnicities are at increased risk of developing this disease. If the disease is not properly managed, then it can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, blindness, and amputations of the foot and leg.

“The simple fact is our health care system and our economy are being overwhelmed by diabetes,” says Ratner. “When we look at the number of individuals and the cost of their care, we see it’s not a sustainable situation.”

Diabetes By the Numbers

As of last year, the total annual cost of diabetes was estimated to be $245 billion in the U.S. alone. In 2007, the annual cost was closer to $174 billion. This represents a staggering 43 percent hike in the cost of caring for people with type 2 diabetes. This type of increase is simply not economically sustainable for the future.

The sheer number of people with prediabetes may be daunting, but initiatives like the National Diabetes Prevention Program are taking action to help delay or prevent these people from developing diabetes. With intensive lifestyle intervention (routine physical fitness regimens, healthier diets, and effective weight management) can significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Taking Action Against Diabetes

Exercising regularly is crucial because it allows the body to improve it’s ability to use insulin, thus ensuring that a person becomes less insulin resistant. As the body is able to respond more effectively to the insulin that it produces, the risk of diabetes is diminished.

As far as eating right goes, there is no miracle diet that works for everyone. Instead, there are a few guidelines that can be used to form the diet that works best for the individual. Reducing calorie intake, monitoring carbohydrates, and avoiding excess saturated fats are good steps to take. Ratner recommends substituting more complex carbs (fiber-rich foods like vegetables) for refined carbs (avoid more sugary drinks and snacks).