When you have the ability to make a difference in someone's life and you don't do anything about it, you lose an opportunity of a lifetime. If you take that opportunity to make a difference, it becomes a positive chain reaction that can possibly mean the difference between life and death for someone with diabetes.

As a foundation of action, the Diabetic Life Foundation is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of people with diabetes in Las Vegas, but we now have a nationwide reach as well. We are fully aware that this is no small undertaking and will require total commitment, without fail. We treat our commitment as if each person with diabetes is a family member, and we want the best for our family.

Why We Need You

Without you, it does not happen. The sponsors and donors to the Diabetic Life Foundation are essential to the very existence of our operation. It is your tax-deductible donations and sponsorships from the heart that will educate, bring awareness, send a child to camp and give someone in need the supplies they need to save and maintain their life. Join the TEAM today because...

Together Everyone Accomplishes More!

Some examples of the prevalence and costs of diabetes.

Diabetes in Nevada

Diabetes research indicates that it is one of the most controllable and often preventable chronic diseases. Despite this promising research, diabetes prevalence is rising at alarming rates, increasing in Nevada from 4.2% in 1996 to 6.2% in 2002. In comparison, national diabetes prevalence rates increased from 4.5% in 1996 to 6.7% in 2002.

Diabetes prevalence in Nevada is not evenly distributed by region, gender, age group, racial/ethnic group, or household income. Prevalence data shows the following:

• Clark County, the rural counties and Carson City had the highest prevalence at 6.5%, compared to 5.1% for Washoe County and 6.2 statewide (2002 data).
• Males (7.1%) had higher diabetes prevalence than females (5.4%) in 2002. Female diabetes prevalence is increasing at a faster rate than the prevalence rate for males.
• Persons age 65 and older had the highest prevalence of all adult age groups (14.3%), while 18-24 year olds had the lowest prevalence rate at 0.7% in 2002.
• American Indians had the highest diabetes prevalence rate of any racial/ethnic group during the 1996-2002 period at 15%. The Asian/Pacific Islander group had the lowest rate at 3.5%.
• Adults with household incomes of less than $15,000 had the highest diabetes prevalence rate at 13.2%, compared to those with household incomes of $50,000 or more at 3.9%.

The Cost of Diabetes in Nevada

The costs of diabetes are staggering. In 2002, $82,030,607.00 was spent for hospitalizations for Nevada residents with diabetes as the primary diagnosis. Of this amount, $15,074,818.00 was reimbursed by Nevada Medicaid. Also, Nevada Medicaid paid $3,121,158.00 for diabetic therapy prescriptions in 2002. We are waiting for the statistics through 2006 and we can only imagine what they will be.

It should be noted that diabetes prevalence for ALL Nevada groups exceeds the Healthy People 2010 objective of 2.5%.

Source: Nevada State Health Division, Bureau of Community Health