Diabetes - Understanding & reducing your risk.

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC.  
Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958

 Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning there is no known cure, but it can be treated. With proper care, most people with diabetes can live normal and independent lives.
 More than 25 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes. In its most basic terms, diabetes has to do with the body’s ability to convert and use blood sugar to produce energy. With Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce sufficient insulin. With Type 2, the insulin the body produces tends to be ineffective. According to the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, an estimated 79 million people have what is considered prediabetes, which refers to higher than normal blood sugar levels.

Did You Know?
 Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness and kidney disease. Problems with the blood can damage the heart and lead to circulatory challenges as blood flows through the heart to the veins and arteries. As a result, people with diabetes have a significantly increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
 Furthermore, because circulation is compromised, complications may arise, including numbness and difficulty healing wounds, primarily in the feet, which can lead to the loss of a limb in extreme cases. In order to identify and treat issues before they become significant problems, regular check-ups and health screenings are critical for people with diabetes.

 Prevention.
The following are a few tips and recommendations that can benefit everyone:
1.      Manage your intake. The sugar or glucose in the blood comes from food and beverage people consume. Make sure you understand nutrition labels and carefully monitor your intake. Phrases like “non-fat” and “sugar-free” can be quite misleading. “Non-fat” typically means high in sugar, and “sugar-free” typically means high in fat. Also, don’t assume certain foods are better than others. For example, the dressing you put on a salad may contain more fat and calories than a cheeseburger. To learn more about Nutritional Facts Labels, visit www.fda.gov/food/labelingnutrition/consumerinformation/ucm078889.htm 
2.      Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best defenses against diabetes because your body functions at its best at its optimal weight.  For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html 
3.      Participating in a regular exercise regimen and practicing healthy living habits, such as not smoking, leads to wellness. One’s risk for complications with diabetes increases dramatically for people who smoke. For recommended activity levels, visit www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/index.html 
4.      Know the symptoms of diabetes, which include increased thirst and urination, blurred vision and fatigue. Also, take time to learn more about diabetes. The following websites offer a diabetes risk test, tips on healthy eating and lifestyles and lots of other helpful information:
·         American Diabetes Association – www.diabetes.org
·         MedLinePlus – www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetes.html
·         National Diabetes Education Program – www.ndep.nih.gov