Show Me Health - Halt the Epidemic of Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. One in 11 Americans has diabetes. This is hard to think about, but according to the experts, almost 600 million of us may be living with type 2 diabetes by 2035. Already some 387 million adults were living with diabetes in 2014. Worse, a delay in diagnosis means that many people with type 2 diabetes will suffer from at least one complication by the time they are diagnosed with diabetes. 

This past Saturday, November 14^th was World Diabetes Day, an event to draw awareness to the epidemic of diabetes spreading across the world.  World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes:  The “Epidemic of Diabetes.”  WDD is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries.

Diabetes is the result of the body not creating enough insulin to keep blood glucose (sugar) levels in the normal range. Everyone needs some glucose in their blood, but if it's too high it can damage your body over time.

Symptoms may include: 

·         Feeling tired and lacking energy

·         Feeling thirsty

·         Going to the toilet often

·         Getting infections frequently

·         Getting infections which are hard to heal

·         Poor eyesight or blurred vision

·         Often feeling hungry

·          

If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, or are age 45 or older, you are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The good news is that making healthy changes can greatly lower your risk. World Diabetes Day is designed to reflect the realities of people living with diabetes.   This year the focus will be on healthy eating as a key factor in the fight against diabetes and a cornerstone of health.  It is well known that healthy eating can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and is an important part of the effective management of all types of diabetes to help avoid complications.    In fact, a healthy lifestyle could prevent up to 70% of type 2 diabetes, and healthy eating is a big part of that. 

To help prevent type 2 diabetes:  

Watch your weight.  Lose weight and/or maintain your weight within a healthy range.

Eat healthy. Meal planning around leafy vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, lean meats, fish, eggs, lower fat and sugar dairy products as well as healthy oils and nuts and reducing your overall sugar intake is an essential part of healthy eating.  Eating the right quantities of different foods is also important for your overall health.  The portions on your smaller plate should be based on dividing your plate into portions of foods:  ¼ of your plate should be one serving of protein, ¼ of your plate should be one serving of carbohydrates (pasta, rice, bread, for example) and vegetables to fill the other ½ of your plate.

Get more physical activity. Stay physically active and get regular exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. Brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing and mowing the lawns all count. Remember you don't have to do all of your daily activity at once.  For example, three brisk walks for 10 minutes in the day may be more manageable than one of 30 minutes. 

As always, remember to always check with your doctor before making any changes in your eating or activity habits.

The Livingston County Health Center provides free diabetes counseling and diabetes screening for a small fee by appointment.  The center is proudly participating in World Diabetes Day to raise awareness about diabetes and healthy living. The year-long diabetes awareness campaign draws attention to issues of importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public and political spotlight.  The aim is to improve access to healthy food, save lives, reduce the global burden of diabetes and save billions in lost productivity and healthcare costs.

To learn more about the diabetes services that the Livingston County Health Center offers, visit our website at www.livcohealthcenter.com, or call 660-646-5506.