New Data Highlights Severe Health and Economic Impact of Pandemic on Millions Living with Diabetes

ARLINGTON, Va., July 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alarming new data shows the disturbing trend within the diabetes population in the U.S. of high unemployment and worsening health outcomes as they are severely and disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This impact has left over 34 million Americans living with diabetes even more vulnerable to poorer outcomes from the coronavirus and highlights the need for measures to help protect these Americans to be a top priority for elected officials.

The survey, conducted by dQ&A, in association with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), details the economic strains that millions of Americans are facing, at a time when they are already facing a daunting threat from severe complications and outcomes from COVID-19.

Diabetes is the second most common underlying health condition among U.S. COVID-19 cases, and nearly 90% of hospitalized American patients have diabetes or another underlying condition.

Key survey results showing this disproportionate impact on millions of Americans:

• Unemployment:
  In June, 18% of people with diabetes were unemployed or furloughed, compared to the national rate of 12%. A third of people with diabetes who were working before the current pandemic have lost some or all income. Specifically, of the low-income Americans living with diabetes, half have lost some or all income and 7 out of 10 self-employed Americans living with diabetes have lost some or all income.

• Insulin, medication and supply rationing:
  1 in 4 people with diabetes have turned to rationing to cut the cost of their diabetes care by skipping insulin or medication doses, and testing their blood glucose less often. Supply rationing is the opposite of the CDC's advice to people with diabetes during the coronavirus pandemic. Maintaining a healthy blood glucose level is crucial to reducing severe complications from COVID-19.

• High-risk livelihood:
  In March, 4 in 10 working people with diabetes were in jobs that cannot be done from home. Currently, half of employed people with diabetes are going into work full-time or part-time. 60% of these workers are in essential industries. 22% are in healthcare. 9 out of 10 are often or sometimes within six feet of others at work. Only 7 out of 10 are required to wear a mask at work.

"These new numbers show the urgency needed to adopt measures to protect and assist the millions of people with diabetes who are suffering through this pandemic," said Tracey D. Brown, CEO of the American Diabetes Association. "We need states to extend healthcare coverage to those who've lost their jobs. We need to eradicate the co-pay for insulin that millions are struggling to pay for in order to stay healthy during this pandemic. And we need to take COVID-19 testing into these high-risk communities in order to inform and stop the spread of this virus. If these actions aren't taken immediately, we will continue to see devastating impacts and outcomes for millions of vulnerable Americans."

"We have a population of 34 million people with diabetes who face deadly consequences if they contract COVID-19," said Richard Wood, founder of dQ&A, a leading diabetes research company. "They are facing financial hardship, rationing their diabetes care to make ends meet, and being exposed to extra risk in the workplace. Keeping them healthy should be our number one goal. From a humanitarian standpoint, and to prevent our health care systems becoming overwhelmed, it's clearly the right thing to do."

The dQ&A results are based on a national online survey of 5,000 people with diabetes, between June 26, 2020 and July 1, 2020.

About the American Diabetes Association
Every day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. More than 122 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For nearly 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

About dQ&A – The Diabetes Research Company
dQ&A is a social enterprise that's committed to making life better for people with diabetes. We harness patient voices to help develop better tools and policies for people with diabetes and improve health outcomes. For over ten years, we have been tracking the experiences and opinions of people with diabetes in the United States, Canada and Europe. We are trusted by patients because of our independence and commitment to them. Our team has decades of experience in quantitative and qualitative research and a deep knowledge of diabetes. Many of our own lives have been touched by diabetes, so we have a personal stake in our work. To learn more and to see research highlights, you can visit us at d-qa.com and follow us on LinkedIn (dQ&A - The Diabetes Research Company), Facebook (@dQandA) and Twitter (@dQAresearch).

Contact:  Daisy Diaz, 703-253-4807
press@diabetes.org 

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SOURCE American Diabetes Association