Mallory Salvi

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System: Health Report

Objective: Complete a Health-Related report on the prevalence of a major health issue in your area
using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Health Report for: The Prevalence of Diabetes: Cuyahoga County, Ohio

A. Introduction/Background: Adults who have diabetes. This data tells us the prevalence of diabetes in
Cuyahoga County in Ohio. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United
States and 9.3% of the population is diagnosed with it. In Cuyahoga County, 9.7% of the population
has diabetes.

B. Summary of Existing Data, including graphs, etc.

1 in 13 people in Cuyahoga County in Ohio has diabetes, and 3 out of 5 people with diabetes has
other health issues.
According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the graphs below show the percentage of adults
who have been diagnosed with diabetes. The color range is explained in the box below.
 http://cuyahoga.oh.networkofcare.org/ph/indicator_detail.aspx?id=diab_prev

C. Demographics: Adults 18 and over.

Cleveland, Ohio
Included in this area: Cuyahoga County

D. Problem Description: Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body does not properly breakdown
food for energy. Also, the body doesnt make insulin or it cannot use it properly like it should. If
there is not enough insulin production, there will be a buildup of glucose in the blood causing high
blood glucose levels. Diabetes can cause blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, nerve damage, loss
of toes, feet, or legs if not managed and controlled. There are different types of diabetes such as
type1, prediabetes, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children
and young adults and is known as juvenile onset diabetes. Type 1 occurs because the pancreas does
not produce insulin. There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes but it can be managed with
insulin therapy. Prediabetes is when a persons blood glucose is higher than normal but not high
enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes can be reversed through healthy eating,
exercising and weight loss. Type 2 diabetes or also known as adult-onset diabetes, is the most
common form of diabetes. It usually occurs in middle aged and older people with high blood glucose
levels, due to the body not using or making insulin. Gestational diabetes mellitus occurs when a
pregnant woman has high levels of blood glucose during pregnancy who has never had diabetes
before. It is important to manage this in order for it not to harm the mom or baby. Gestational
diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born.

E. Community Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5711a1.htm

http://cuyahoga.oh.networkofcare.org/ph/indicator_detail.aspx?id=diab_prev&c=1

http://www.diabetes.org/?loc=logo

https://www.odh.ohio.gov/health/diabetes/odpcp.aspx

F. Recommendations: To prevent type 2 diabetes, it is critical to follow healthy eating habits and to be
physically active regularly. To help control diabetes, it is important to work closely with a medical
doctor to keep blood glucose levels within normal range. A normal fasting blood glucose range is
between 70 and 100 mg/dL and a random glucose test below 125 mg/dl is considered normal. Also,
it is important to eat healthy and exercise regularly.
Diet: Eat smaller portions and less fat such as fatty meats, fried foods, dairy products made from
whole milk, cakes, cookies, candy, crackers, pies, salad dressings, lard, shortening and stick
margarine.
Eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain foods more often.
Follow the diabetic exchange list.
Physical Activity: It is recommended to participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity
physical activity 5 or more days a week. This includes walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing,
swimming or bicycling.