Diabetes

Number of diabetes deaths per 10,000 population

Domain

Physical health status

Rationale for use of indicator

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among Americans, and a major underlying cause of death due to other conditions. Diabetes is responsible for a high proportion of kidney failures, nontraumatic amputations and blindness in older adults. Babies of diabetic mothers are at elevated risk for congenital malformations and death during the perinatal period.

Risk Factors

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among people with diabetes.

Interventions

Preventing cardiovascular disease by controlling high blood pressure, reducing cigarette smoking, and reducing cholesterol levels could decrease cardiovascular disease, and diabetes deaths, by more than one third.

Data Source

Texas Vital Statistics 1995-1997.

References

Institute of Medicine. 1997. Improving health in the community: A role for performance monitoring. Washington, D.C.:

National Academy Press. National Center for Health Statistics. Health status indicators: Definitions and national data. Healthy People 2000 Statistical Notes 1992;1(3):1-8.

USDHHS. Healthy People 2000: national health promotion and disease prevention objectives: full report, with commentary. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; 1991. Report No.: DHHS publication no. (PHS) 91-50212.