Oklahoma Fights High Rate Of Diabetes

Oklahoma has one of the highest diabetes rates in the nation. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults have the disease and the rate is increasing at an alarming rate. However, through awareness and the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, doctors hope to bring those numbers down.

"Many people are out there with type 2 diabetes and don't know it," said Dr. Hal Scofield, Professor of Internal Medicine.

Each day 55 people in Oklahoma are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a rate that has quadrupled since 1994. Dr. Scofield says while heredity plays a role, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity are the main reasons for the increase.

"You have to eat properly and have a good plan about how you're going to eat and lose some weight," he said.

Bruce Sparling had a family history of diabetes and even though he managed it for years with diet and exercise, he eventually had to use insulin.

"I have to keep track of my carbohydrate intake and that allows me to determine how much insulin I should take to match what I've eaten," he said.

He checks an app on his phone to find out how much insulin to take.

"Diabetes is the patients out there at home in their regular life managing it day to day, meal to meal," Dr. Scofield said.

The Harold Hamm Center in Oklahoma City helps patients manage their diabetes while researchers here work to find a cure.

"We have physicians, diabetes educators, psychologists, physical therapists try to bring everything to the patient in one spot," said Dr. Scofield.

Morgan Lane was nine years old when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

"I was terrified because i didn't know what diabetes was," she said.

"Type 1 diabetes is an emergency, it must be treated with insulin," said Dr. Jeanie Tryggestad, a pediatric endocrinologist. "There are no other treatments at all."

Type 1 diabetes is most common in children where the body does not produce insulin.

"We haven't quite figured out about what triggers that immune system to malfunction," said Dr. Tryggestad.

Lane is dependent on insulin and has a pump attached to her body that administers the hormone.

"I think that's what made me mature a lot faster than most kids my age because instead of just running around and doing what I want, I had to make sure that my body felt ok," she said. "Type 1 diabetes, right now, is a lifelong diagnosis."

Morgan is now in high school, managing her diabetes and living a normal life. She also brings awareness to the disease through lectures and the annual walk for a cure.

"It's never held me back, I never let it," Lane said. "I just feel happy because I'm using my diabetes to help others."

If left untreated, diabetes can cause serious health problems like blindness, heart attack and stroke.