in Health

Toronto (ECN) - Government researchers are blaming the steady rise of diabetes cases in the United States on the nation's obesity epidemic. Roughly 90 percent of the 23 million cases of diabetes are Type 2, caused by obesity and sedentary lifestyles. That figure has nearly doubled over the last 10 years according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Type 2 diabetes can cause sugar to build up in the body because the cells cannot properly use insulin. The disease can lead to heart disease, kidney failure , blindness and poor circulation that leads to foot and leg amputations. It was also 2006's seventh-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the CDC.

About 1.6 million new cases of adult diabetes were diagnosed in 2006, the last year where there is data available. New diagnoses of this type of diabetes saw an increase from 4.8 per 1,000 people between 1995 and 1997 to 9.1 per 1,000 people between 2005 and 2007.

The researchers only used data for 40 states between 2005 and 2007, making it an imperfect study, but one that can guide future research.

Southern states, where obesity tends to be high, had the worst rate of diabetes. West Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas had the highest rates, at at least 11 cases of diabetes per 1,000 people. Some researchers say this may be because blacks, Hispanics and older people have a higher-than-average rate of Type 2 diabetes. However, they also suggest health insurance companies and public health services focus their prevention campaigns in these areas where diabetes is extremely high.

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