Diabetes on the increase in Oklahoma

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Recent data shows that the incidence of diabetes in Oklahoma is on the increase. That's according to Chronic Disease Service Chief Adeline Yerkes. Yerkes says the percentage

Friday, July 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Recent data shows that the incidence of diabetes in Oklahoma is on the increase. That's according to Chronic Disease Service Chief Adeline Yerkes. Yerkes says the percentage of Oklahomans with diabetes increased from 2.6 percent in 1996 to 6.8 percent in 1999. That means about 270,000 Oklahomans have diabetes.

Yerkes says aging is one reason for the increase but notes tha the number of younger Oklahomans contracting diabetes has also risen. She says more than one percent of Oklahomans ages 18-to-34 have the disease. Nearly four percent of Oklahomans ages 25-to-34 have diabetes. Yerkes says a growing number of Oklahomans are overweight and obese, which has helped spur the increase. Complications from diabetes include kidney failure, blindness and amputations due to circulatory problems.