Diabetes prevalence higher in Chicago

According to a research coalitio, diabetes levels in the Chicago area are notably higher that the American average. A team comprised of Chicago businesses have been working to educate Chicago area employers on how best to manage diseases amongst workers.
Known as the Midwest Business Group on Health, the organisation are aiding some of the largest employers in the area. They claim at the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Chicago sat at over 10.5 per cent in 2005, compared to a national average of 7 per cent.
Diabetes is also an expensive disease, costing employers $130 billion nationally. The disease affects 17 million Americans, a figure that grows considerably every year. Type 2 diabetes is considerably more prevalent than type 1.
The president and chief executive of the Midwest Business Group on Health, Larry Boress, reportedly commented: “Diabetes has a significant impact on an employer’s medical and productivity costs, and the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is higher in the Chicago area than many other metropolitan regions. We hope this information serves as a call to action for employers to assist their covered populations in the identificatio, diagnosis, education, treatment and self-management of this debilitating and costly disease.”