Healthy Steps
TO HELP PREVENT
DIABETES
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) reported in
2017 that more than 30 million people in the United States
have diabetes. That’s nearly 10% of the population.
Additionally, more than 84 million
U.S. adults have prediabetes, a condition
in which blood sugar levels
are above normal but not yet high
enough for a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis.
The good news is that there are
steps you can take to help reduce your
chances of developing the condition.
DIABETES 101
Most of the food we eat is broken
down into sugar by our bodies and
released into the bloodstream. Insulin,
produced by the pancreas, helps
convert this sugar into energy. When
our bodies can’t produce insulin, or
can’t properly use insulin, too much
blood sugar stays in the bloodstream
leading to diabetes.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead
over time to other serious problems
including heart disease, vision loss
and kidney disease. Some of the common
symptoms of diabetes include:
• Frequent urinating
• Feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very hungry (even when
you have eaten)
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow healing of cuts or bruises
• Tingling, pain, or numbness in
the hands and/or feet
NUTRITION & EXERCISE
A combination of genetic and lifestyle
factors can increase your chances of
developing Type 2 Diabetes. Some
of these are beyond our control, but
positive changes in diet and exercise
can help prevent or delay the onset of
the disease. The key is to move more
and to eat healthier every day.
Simple steps to help you stay more
active include sitting less throughout
the day. Get up every hour, move
around and stretch. Use an alarm on
LINKS: www.niddk.nih.gov | www.diabetes.org
6 COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE DIGEST • OCT–DEC 2018 | WWW.CHDIGEST.COM
/www.niddk.nih.gov
/www.diabetes.org
/WWW.CHDIGEST.COM