About 9.4 percent of Kane County adults report having been diagnosed with diabetes. That equates to almost 50,000 of our residents.

Another 6 percent of Kane County adults report that they have “pre-diabetes” or “borderline diabetes,” according to the Kane County Health Department’s 2014 Community Health Assessment.

Chronic disease is one of the greatest threats to the health of our residents. In the U.S, seven out of 10 deaths each year are attributed to chronic diseases, accounting for 86 percent of our nations’ health care costs.

In response to these disturbing numbers, the American Diabetes Association has proclaimed Tuesday, March 22, as Diabetes Alert Day, and the Kane County Health Department is encouraging everyone to follow the association’s recommendation to take the Type 2 Diabetes risk test to find out their risk of developing diabetes.

The Kane County Health Department is actively working to prevent diabetes in several ways:

Community Health Improvement Plan: Kane Health Counts

The CHIP Chronic Disease Action Team will be focusing on adult nutrition and physical activity. The team will begin to identify and implement strategies across Kane County to address factors such as access, knowledge, awareness, and capacity.

Some ideas include walkability studies, messaging and media campaigns, active design, land use policies, farmers markets and SNAP benefits, point-of-decision prompts, and improving safety of parks and trails. The overall goal is to reduce obesity, decrease risk factors leading to diabetes and hypertension, and ultimately decrease the prevalence of chronic disease in Kane County.

The 2012-2016 Kane County CHIP reflects the understanding that the quality of where we live, work, and play is as important to good health as going to the doctor for regular checkups, proper nutrition, and adequate physical activity. Through our CHIP, three actions teams have been created to address the top 3 priorities identified: behavioral health, chronic disease, and income and education.

The CHIP Chronic Disease Action Team will be focusing on adult nutrition and physical activity. The team will begin to identify and implement strategies across Kane County to address factors such as access, knowledge, awareness, and capacity. Some ideas include: walkability studies, messaging and media campaigns, active design, land use policies, farmers markets and SNAP benefits, point-of-decision prompts, and improving safety of parks and trails. The overall goal is to reduce obesity, decrease risk factors leading to diabetes and hypertension, and ultimately decrease the prevalence of chronic disease in Kane County.

Chronic Disease and School Health

Through the Chronic Disease and School Health grant from the CDC, the Kane County Health Department has partnered with all 5 hospitals to evaluate their food environment and develop ways to reduce sodium intake, increase access to healthy and affordable foods, and promote physical activity. The Health Department will also be working with schools to review and improve their existing wellness policies by creating strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity.

Making Kane Fit for Kids

The Kane County Health Department strives to make homes, faith communities, schools, recreation programs & workplaces “Fit for Kids” by shifting the culture to promote health and wellness through four strategies:

• Develop land use, planning and other public policies that foster and support physical activity for all in our communities.
• Assure that fresh fruits and vegetables are affordable and accessible to all families in our communities.
• Support a culture of wellness and health promotion in our workplaces, schools, homes, communities and other institutions.
• Provide parents and children with reliable, up-to-date information in multiple settings regarding healthy physical activity and eating habits.

You can find more information on diabetes data and other health issues specific to Kane County on the new Kane Health Counts website at kanehealthcounts.org.

Take the Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test

Diabetes Education Centers in Kane County

• Advocate Sherman Hospital
• Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital
• Presence Mercy Medical Center
• Presence St. Joseph Hospital
• Rush-Copley Medical Center
• VNA Health Care

SOURCE: Kane County Health Department