November 15, 2007
November is American Diabetes Month
by Annette Coyle, RD LD
This year the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is focusing on the "Many Faces of Diabetes" within the community during American Diabetes Month.
Diabetes doesn't just affect the person with the disease. It affects their families, friends, caregivers, co-workers and employers-just to name a few. Nearly 21 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. An additional 54 million are at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. Just think of the total number of people affected in one way or another by diabetes! In Alaska about 23,000 people have diabetes. The percentage of Alaska Natives with diabetes has more than doubled since 1990. If the current trend continues, one out of three Americans and one in two minorities born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. We want to stop this trend.
Here on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, we work to prevent diabetes and the complications of diabetes. What can you do to help? This best thing to do is educate yourself about diabetes. Do you know who is most at risk for getting this disease? Do you know the symptoms of type 2 diabetes? Did you know that type 2 diabetes sometimes has no symptoms at all? Did you know that diabetes can be prevented? Do you know how?
If you have diabetes, take good care of yourself. This means keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure under control, taking your medicine as directed, and seeing your health care provider, dentist and eye doctor once each year.
If you have a friend or loved one who has diabetes, encourage them to take good care of themselves. It can be hard to live with diabetes. Be supportive and understanding. Offer to join them in their efforts to eat well and increase their physical activity. Be positive!
Set a good example for the young people. Get your blood sugar checked once a year. Eat good Native foods, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Avoid soda pop and other sugary beverages. Do not use tobacco. Be active every day. Let's park the snow machine or four-wheeler and let the young people see us walking to do our work and errands.
The Diabetes Prevention and Control Program is happy to provide additional information and assistance. We have Clinical Diabetes Educators and Outreach Coordinators who can work with individuals or present programs on diabetes to schools and community groups.
Call us in Bethel at 543-6133 or toll free at 1-800-543-6133
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes:
- over 40 years of age
- overweight
- physically inactive
- family history of diabetes
- history of impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance
- history of gestational diabetes
- giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds
- being Alaska Native (Other ethnic groups also have a higher risk).
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes:
- feeling very thirsty
- feeling very hungry
- unusual weight loss
- feeling very tired
- frequent urination
- weight loss
- blurry vision
- sores or wounds that are slow to heal