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Almost 5,700 in NYC died of diabetes-related causes in 2011

One person in NYC dies of diabetes-related causes every 90 minutes and Mayor Michael Bloomberg advises limiting large sugary drinks to lower obesity and diabetes risk. UPI /Monika Graff
One person in NYC dies of diabetes-related causes every 90 minutes and Mayor Michael Bloomberg advises limiting large sugary drinks to lower obesity and diabetes risk. UPI /Monika Graff | License Photo

NEW YORK, June 12 (UPI) -- Almost 5,700 New York City residents died from type 2 diabetes-related causes in 2011 -- an all-time high, city health officials say.

"The deaths includes those for which diabetes was classified as the underlying cause of death as well as those for which diabetes was classified as a contributing cause," a city Health Department report said.

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"Even as the overall death rate in New York City continues to decline, diabetes-related deaths continue to increase. Since 1990, the proportion of all New York City deaths related to diabetes nearly doubled, from 6 percent in 1990 to 10.8 percent in 2011."

Dr. Thomas Farley, city health commissioner, said overall, one person dies of diabetes-related causes every 90 minutes, adding up to 16 deaths a day in New York City.

"Diabetes is a condition that too many people live with and die from," Farley said in a statement. "It is linked to our epidemic of obesity, and like obesity, it can be prevented."

In April, the Health Department reported nearly 650,000 adult New Yorkers reported having diabetes in 2011, an increase of 200,000 adults since 2002.

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In conjunction with the release of the report, the Health Department is running a radio ad campaign educating New Yorkers about the risks of diabetes and how they can be lowered by maintaining a healthy weight by being active, eating healthy and cutting out sugary drinks. The 30-second radio spot will run by the end of June.

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