November is National Diabetes Month.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which a person’s body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is essential in converting sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Today, there are over 20 million people living with diabetes in the United States. While the cause of diabetes continues to remain unknown, we do know that genetics and lifestyle factors can play an important role. Being overweight, of Hispanic or Native American descent, or the child of a parent with diabetes, are all factors that could increase your likelihood of becoming diabetic.
The good news is that diabetes is a very treatable and manageable disease. With the right education and support, your chance of experiencing health complications that come from diabetes – such as blindness, kidney failure, or amputation – can be greatly reduced.
What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a serious health condition that puts you at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes affects more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults—that’s 88 million people—but most people don’t know they have it. The good news is that by making healthy lifestyle changes, it is possible to manage or reverse prediabetes and prevent it from turning into type 2 diabetes.
How to Manage Prediabetes?
Making changes to your lifestyle and daily habits can be hard, but you don’t have to change everything at once. Start small with these steps:
- At least 30 minutes of exercise, 5 days per week.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Pick foods high in fiber and low in fat and sugar. Drink water instead of sweetened drinks.
- You may be able to prevent or delay diabetes by losing 5 to 7% of your starting weight.
- Seek regular support from a trusted doctor.
