November 2015
YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO HEALTH CARE AWARENESS
Doctor’s
Bag
Diabetes Prevention Tips
DidUKnow?
When it comes to type 2
diabetes, prevention is key, and
can be especially important if
you are already at risk. Making
healthy changes to your lifestyle
and eating habits can have a
big impact on prevention, and
it’s never too early or too late
to start! Consider these latest
diabetes prevention tips from the
American Diabetes Association:
DIABETES STATISTICS
More Physical Activity
Your whole body benefits from regular physical activity,
which can help you lose weight and lower your blood
sugar. It can also boost your sensitivity to insulin, which
will keep your blood sugar within a normal range, and
can help prevent and treat diabetes.
The number of American seniors
•
(age 65 and older) with diabetes
is approximately 11.8 million.
Plenty of Fiber
Fiber can help reduce your risk of diabetes by lowering
your risk of heart disease and improving your blood
sugar control. Foods high in fiber can also promote
weight loss by making you feel full.
Diabetes can lead to a number of
additional heath conditions, such as:
Go for Whole Grains
Whole grains may help reduce your risk of diabetes by
also maintaining your blood sugar levels. Look for the
word “whole grain” on food packaging among the first
few items on the ingredient list, and try to make most of
your grain intake whole grains.
Lose the Extra Weight
Being overweight is a key risk factor for diabetes. If
you are overweight, diabetes treatment and prevention
can hinge on weight loss. Staying active and eating
a healthy, nutritious diet is the best way to lose extra
weight.
Make Healthy Choices
If you have diabetes or are at risk, you should focus on
making healthy choices every day. Stay away from fad
diets, which may help you lose weight at first, but could
exclude or limit the essential nutrients your body needs
and may be ineffective in long-term effects. Instead,
focus on a healthy eating plan and portion control.
Claims are administered by UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company.
Prevalence
•Approximately 29.1 million
Americans have diabetes.
•Approximately 1.5 million
American children and adults
have type 1 diabetes.
•Of the 29.1 million Americans
living with diabetes, 8.1 million
were undiagnosed.
•86 million Americans age 20
and older have pre-diabetes.
Other Complications/Conditions
•Hypoglycemia
•Hypertension
•Dyslipidemia
• Increased risk for heart attack
• Increased risk for stroke
• Blindness and eye problems
• Kidney disease
•Amputations
Information Sources
American Diabetes Association,. (2015).
Statistics About Diabetes. Retrieved from http://
www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/.
Hsph.harvard.edu,. (2015). Simple Steps to
Preventing Diabetes | The Nutrition Source |
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/
nutritionsource/preventing-diabetes-full-story/.
Mayo Clinic Staff,. (2015). Diabetes prevention:
5 tips for taking control - Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.
org. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/
diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/
diabetes-prevention/art-20047639.
Nordqvist, C. (2015). Diabetes: Symptoms,
Types and Treatments. Medicalnewstoday.com.
Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.
com/info/diabetes/.
Types of Diabetes
Diabetes, which affects more
than 24 million Americans, is
a set of metabolic diseases
in which a person has high
blood glucose (blood sugar)
levels. There are three common
types of diabetes, each with
underlying causes:
Type 1 Diabetes
If a body does not produce
the insulin needed to ensure
your blood glucose levels don’t
get too high or too low, it is
categorized as type 1 diabetes.
A person with type 1 will have to
take insulin injections and must
ensure proper blood-glucose
levels by testing their blood and
following a special diet.
Type 2 Diabetes
When a body either doesn’t
produce enough insulin for
proper cell function or cells
have built up a resistance and
do not react to insulin, it is
categorized as type 2 diabetes,
which makes up approximately
90% of all diabetes diagnosis
worldwide.
Gestational Diabetes
Categorized as very high
levels of glucose in the blood
without the body being able
to produce enough insulin for
proper cell function, which
results in progressively rising
levels of glucose, gestational
diabetes occurs only in women
during pregnancy.