World Diabetes Day: 10 Ways to Reduce your Risk of Getting Diabetes

World diabetic date, November 14th is a day dedicated to raising awareness of diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic disease and it is important to understand the potential consequences of living with it. Diabetes can be managed through healthy habits.

According to the National Institute of Health, an estimated 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes and of those, an estimated 8.1 million are undiagnosed.

As the number of people with diabetes grows, so does the burden on society. This blog is about the importance of understanding diabetes and how to help others.

This year, we're focusing on the importance of keeping track of your blood sugar levels and taking the right steps to manage them. We want to remind everyone that diabetes can affect anyone, no matter how young or old they are. So today, please take some time to learn more about this disease and how to best manage it. #diabetes awareness

National Diabetes awareness month: Causes and Facts about Diabetes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Each year, more than 200,000 people die from diabetes-related complications. 

The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total economic cost of diabetes in 2012 was $245 billion. This figure includes the cost of medical care, as well as the cost of lost productivity from missed work days.

Diabetes is related with insulin levels in the body. When the body’s insulin is unable to control the blood sugar levels it will lead to high blood sugar levels. This is also called hyperglycemia. 

There are two types of diabetes prevalent among humans as type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 diabetes is more common in young people while type 2- diabetes is more common in older people.

Diabetic World: Risk Factors

There are a number of risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.  

 

Some of the risk factors include,

• Being overweight
• Having high blood pressure
• Having a family history of diabetes
• Being over the age of 45
• Ethnicity

Diabetes affects men and women at roughly the same rate. However, certain racial and ethnic groups including Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are more likely than others to develop diabetes.

How to Identify Diabetes on You?

 

Common symptoms of diabetes include,

 

• Feeling very thirsty
• Needing to urinate often
• Feeling very tired
• Weight loss
• Slow-healing wounds
• Blurred vision
• Increased hunger
• Fatigue

Potential Consequences of Living with Diabetes    

Among 34 millions of American citizens who have diabetes, 90% have type 2 diabetes. If diabetes is not managed carefully, it can lead to serious health complications. 

Some of the complications associated with diabetes include,

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Blindness
• Lower limb amputation
• Recurrent infections (fungal and chronic infections like tuberculosis)

How to Avoid Diabetes?

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to avoiding diabetes, there are some general lifestyle changes that can help.

There are a few things that can be done to help avoid diabetes. 

10 Ways of Avoiding Diabetes

Ten ways to reduce your risk of getting diabetes are as follows.

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating a healthy diet (Commit to eating a healthy diet that includes whole grains, low glycemic Index food, and lean protein) #30 day diabetic meal plan pdf
• Exercising regularly
• Regular medical checkups and screenings for high blood sugar levels (6 monthly or annually)
• Cut down on alcohol
• Quit smoking
• Sleep adequately
• Stop the sugar rush! 
• Limit sodium intake
• Distress and connect with others

If you have diabetes, it is important to manage your blood sugar levels and take steps to prevent complications.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that by 2030, the number of people with diabetes will have risen to nearly 300 million. If you want to avoid this fate, it's important to take steps now to reduce your risk of developing the disease.  Take control of your diabetes and prevent it from getting worse.