Internal Medicine: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2165-8048
ISSN: 2165-8048
Kirsten Larson
University of Minnesota Medical School, USA
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Intern Med
Committee to review the health effects in Vietnam veterans due to exposure to herbicides has found that exposure to Agent Orange is linked to a number of chronic medical conditions including type-2 diabetes mellitus. The American Diabetes Association estimates the average annual medical cost for an individual with type-2 diabetes to be over $13,000 a year. Fortunately, Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and who have been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes can apply for disability benefits to cover this cost. Unfortunately, we have noted that many Vietnam veterans and primary care physicians outside of the VA medical system are unaware of this. The results of both a literature review of Agent Orange exposure and its correlation to type-2 diabetes, as well as interviews of 15 Vietnam veterans suffering from type-2 diabetes will be presented. As more rural Minnesotan veterans are expected to access care from their local non-VA healthcare providers after the passing of the Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014, it is important to bring primary care physicians up-to-date on healthcare concerns specific to the veteran population, including the association between type-2 diabetes and previous Agent Orange exposure.
Email: lars4012@d.umn.edu