Thursday, October 31, 2013

Focus on diabetes care & prevention!

Get more info at the NDEP website

Diabetes is an illness which affects 8.3 percent of the American population—25.8 million people, according to a 2011 survey. The disease (really a group of diseases, since there are different types of diabetes) is marked by an increase in the body’s level of blood glucose due to an inability to produce enough insulin. It can be a truly serious illness if left untreated; however, more and more people are taking the appropriate steps to manage their illness and prevent it from severely impacting their health. Since November is 2013 National Diabetes Month, we thought we’d take time to highlight some recommendations from the National Diabetes Education Program for caring for, preventing, and managing diabetes and ensuring healthy lives!
Let’s start with some info about diagnosing the illness. Type 2 diabetes, the more common form (accounting for 90% to 95% of all cases), is partially hereditary, and having a history of diabetes in your family increases the risk of developing it. If anyone in your family has had type 2 diabetes or been told they are at risk of developing it, it is a good idea to keep an eye on your own risk levels. But thankfully, there are plenty of lifestyle choices that can go a long way towards preventing the development of type 2 diabetes—or at least greatly reducing the chances of developing it. For example, making healthy nutritional choices (see our blog post on nutrition for more info), avoiding high-sugar foods and drinks (soda, candy, etc.), and eating smaller portions will certainly make a difference. Staying active is also key—spend at least 30 minutes a day five days a week engaged in strenuous physical activity, and check out our post on exercise if you need some tips!
If you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, there are also many ways that lifestyle and nutrition can help you manage your symptoms and long-term health: develop a diabetes meal plan, tailored to your specific needs; eat foods with less fat and salt and more fiber; avoid smoking and manage your stress-levels; and check your blood glucose levels regularly. In fact, there are many such guidelines for ensuring that diabetes doesn’t take over one’s life, and plenty of resources to help you go about it: check out theNDEP’s Diabetes Management Page for lots more info on the subject!
Despite the underlying hereditary and medical causes for diabetes, there can be no doubt that our culture of fast food and little exercise has quite a bit to do with the increase in cases. The facts are quite sobering: in 1958 there were 1.5 million people diagnosed with the illness, whereas in 2010 that number had risen to 18.8 million. Prediabetes, a condition where blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, is thought to affect a whopping 79 million adults, or almost a quarter of the US population! But though the statistics are shocking, there is hope—in the form of awareness, education and prevention, knowledge of diabetes and of healthy lifestyle choices is spreading. This November, perhaps you can contribute to that culture of learning in your own community! Get educated, get involved and get healthy!

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