We typically choose where we live based on a number of factors: location, weather, price, etc. But we rarely take into consideration how where we choose to live affects our health. Do you live in an area prone to wildfires? This can affect your lungs. Do you live in an area with limited access to healthy food options? This may put you at an increased risk for obesity, high blood pressure, etc. You may even be living in a hotspot for diabetes complications.
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Are you living in a hotspot for diabetes complications?
If you’re wondering about your risk for diabetes-related complications, a study has pinpointed two west coast locations at risk.
Texas and Florida are big U.S. centers for Americans dealing with short- and long-term complications, a new study shows.
The findings could help direct support to people who need it the most, according to the researchers.
“Our analysis has enabled us to create a map of the United States that showcases hot spots of different diabetes complications and any demographic information associated with these areas,” says study leader Jacques Lowe, a medical student with a focus on diabetes at Carle Illinois College of Medicine in Champaign.
Common diabetes health complications include heart disease, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and problems with feet, vision and oral health.
Lowe and his colleagues culled information from Medicare and other public databases on diabetes complications in more than 3,000 U.S. counties. The researchers fed the data into geospatial analysis software, which revealed high long-term diabetes complication rates in counties in Florida and Texas.
So, which locations have the lowest rates of complications?
Counties in the West and Great Plains had