U.S. Life expectancy & Health trends

[Guest guest]

I was shocked to read this:

Perhaps the most significant trend is the rise in diabetes, which in 2002

afflicted 6.5 percent of adults. In 1997, 5.3 percent had the disease. The

disease increases a person's risk of heart attack, kidney failure,

infection, amputation and blindness. Being overweight greatly

increases the chances a person will develop the disease.

In 2001, about 22 percent of people 45 and older who were admitted to U.S.

hospitals were diabetic.

" The projections are that diabetes will continue to be a bigger problem

because of the increases in obesity, " said Amy Bernstein, the health

services researcher in charge of the report.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45108-2003Oct4.html