Health Beat: Diabetes Still a Cause for Concern
Health Indicators, Outcomes Worse for Solano Children, Adults than for People Across State
Diabetes and obesity remain prevailing concerns across Solano County, with far-reaching health consequences.
Dr. Clipper Young, PharmD Class of 2013 and Associate Professor in Touro University California’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, reports the health care community is dealing with a Solano County population where approximately 1 in 10 adults have diabetes.
Solano County Public Health reports the death rate for residents with diabetes is 25% higher than the statewide average. Meanwhile, the discharge rate of diabetes patients from emergency rooms in Solano County is 1.6 times the statewide rate; and the discharge rate for Black residents is 2.2 times the rate among non-Hispanic white residents.
Children, Adults Remain at Risk
More children across Solano County are also obese or overweight when compared to their peers across the state. The same holds true for adults who live in Solano County. There’s a corresponding lack of regular physical activity among Solano County’s children and adults when compared to statewide averages, the county reports, with 4 in 9 children who are deemed physically inactive and nearly 1 in 10 adults 20 or older who report they have no leisure time for physical activity.
Current information from the 2023 County Health Rankings report from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute’s School of Medicine and Public Health shows that 30% of adults in Solano County are obese, with 21% deemed physically inactive even though 97% have access to exercise opportunities.
Why it Matters
The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion reports that more than 1 in 3 American adults have prediabetes, to include 33.4% of adults in California, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Those who have prediabetes are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within five years, which puts them at greater risk of heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and loss of toes, feet or legs.
Health Care Options Available
These health issues – and others – can be mitigated for most children and adults with proper health care combined with lifestyle changes. Health care options for those with or without insurance include Solano County Public Health’s Family Health Services clinics in Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo as well as Touro University California’s Student-Run Free Clinic in Vallejo.
The University’s Mobile Diabetes Education Center features a state-of-the-art trailer, staffed by the MOBEC team and student volunteers who bring the trailer to sites across Solano County and the nearby region. Diabetes screenings and education are provided to community members free of charge.
Meanwhile the Diabetes Research Education and Management Team at Touro – known as the Dream Team – provides free diabetes consultation services to Solano County Family Health Services and OLE Health patients.