CHICAGO — Neighborhoods on the city's South and West sides are seeing an increase in hospitalizations for diabetes, a new report says.
Using data from the Chicago Public Health Department, the Medill News Service says Altgeld Gardens and Hegewisch saw the highest increase. In 2000, there were 20 hospitalizations due to diabetes; by 2011, there were 139 .
Suburban Calumet Park and East Chicago, as well as the Chicago Lawn and Gage Park neighborhoods all saw double digit increases over that time period, Medill reporter Talia Beechick writes.
Bucktown, Lakeview, and South Loop saw declines.
Experts blame obesity and poor eating habits for the increase in Type 2 diabetes.
Meanwhile, a report in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, examines trends for diabetes in the United States and finds that the highest rates, over 20 percent, are among blacks, Asians and Hispanics.
A University of Chicago-affiliated effort works with six South Side clinics to document neighborhood levels of diabetes and come up with ways to reduce the problem. It offers workshops to community groups, works with grocers to provide healthier foods and helps sponsor an annual "Diabetes Cook Off." The healthy recipe contest offers $1,000 in cash prizes.
More can be found at southsidediabetes.com.
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