A New ApproachTo Fighting The Threat Of Diabetes (NAPSA)—There are 18.2 million diabetics undergoing treatment in this country—nearly one ages of 20 and 74, and it accounts for 40 percent of people who have kidney failure. Other health com- more who don’t even know they haveit. Not only that, experts say there are ple with diabetes. Cardiovascular disease is 2 to 4 times more common among people with diabetes, stroke is also 2 to 4 times higher, and 60 to 65 percent of diabetics havehigh blood pressure. “The primary solution” says Dr. Bortz, “is prevention. When treatments are required, it mustberigorous and sustained. We need to do more to empowerindividuals and communities to take control— everybody from schools, to industry, government, and throughout the health care profession.” Worse, with health care costs related to diabetes now approaching $200 billion per year, companies, governments and individuals will soon no longer be able to afford treatmentof this appalling disease. Dr. Bortz’s book offers hope, showing steps that should be taken to quench the fire of diabetes. He also gives potential strategies to in 20 Americans—and 5.2 million plications grow worse among peo- diabetes 200 million peo- lam ple at risk for the disease, and - Walter M. Bortz tl, m.p. 2 million new _ cases are reported every year. Fortunately, it’s possible to reverse the effects of diabetes. For example, Mike Huckabee, the youngest governor of Arkansas in the state’s history, reacted to his diagnosis by losing 110 pounds in two years, going from obese to fit and reversing the effects of diabetes. Governor Huckabee is such a success story that he wrote the foreword for a new book, “Dia- betes Danger: What 200 Million Americans At Risk Need To Know”(Select Books, $21.95). The book was written by Walter M. Bortz II, M.D., a lifelong enthusiast of staying healthy. He’s teamed up with Governor Huckabee in an appeal to Americans to take control of their health. Not only will this be good for themselves and their families, but it helps the country pull back on the mushrooming costs of treating diabetes. Diabetics spend nearly five times as much as other people on medical care—only to die an average of 15 yearsearlier. The most common symptom of early diabetes is chronic fatigue, danger i‘ What 200 Million 7 Americans At Risk 4 Need to Know Walter M. Bortz Il, M.D. : ea The chief causes of the current epidemic of diabetes in the United States is obesity and lack of exercise. Americans are eating too much, moving toolittle andliving too fast. but most people visit the doctor because they are experiencing another physical problem. In these cases, it’s routine for the doctor to do a blood test and that’s how heor she finds out that the patient has diabetes. But, by that time about half of the patients will already have serious complications. Left uncontrolled, diabetes can, over time, lead to blindness, kid- reverse symptoms once the dreaded disease has struck and demonstrates how personal health maintenance, rather than the medical system, is more effective at reining in this horrible disease. Walter M. Bortz I, M.D. is one of America’s most distinguished scientific experts on aging. After training at Williams College and the University of Pennsylvania ney failure, heart disease, limb amputations and nerve damage. According to the Food and Drug Medical School, he has spent his the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults between the Medicine. He lives in Palo Alto, Administration (FDA), diabetes is career at Stanford University, where he holds the position of Clinical Associate Professor of California, with his wife.
