The Health Forum focuses research and discussion on the topic of Health in South Carolina, its issues and how they may be resolved. The role of the Forum is one of dialogue, discussion and exploration – the Forum does not take explicit positions on the issues.
Health Forum Goal
The hope is that participants gain an understanding of Health issues so they can take leadership or collaborative roles outside Liberty Fellowship to develop and implement solutions that will positively impact South Carolina.
Co-chairs
- Ann Kulze, MD, Class of 2008
- Faith Polkey, MD, Class of 2010
Details
Liberty Fellows in the Health Forum identified prevention and management of type 2 diabetes as their focus for research, review and discussion.
- South Carolina ranks 10th highest in the nation in the percent of population with diabetes. According to the CDC, 11.3% of the US population has type 2 diabetes, and 35% of the population over 20 has prediabetes.
- Individuals with diabetes are at increased risk for serious health problems including heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, loss of limb and blindness.
- In addition to greatly impacting length and quality of life, healthcare costs associated with this disease are astronomical – lifetime medical costs for treatment of type 2 diabetes are currently in excess of $100,000 with costs expected to triple over the next 25 years. The disease is one of the biggest ticket items for South Carolina in terms of health/medical-related expenditures.
- Type 2 diabetes is almost totally preventable! Current studies support that 92+% of the cases diagnosed could have been prevented through proper diet and lifestyle choices.
The Health Forum’s discussion, research and eventual spin-off action groups focus on these factors that can prevent and/or help manage type 2 diabetes:
- Healthy body weight
- Nutritious diet
- Physical activity
- Education on diabetes prevention and management
- Access to healthcare
Research is slated to begin in late spring 2011.
