Did you know?

Diabetes is a life-altering and life-threatening disease. People diagnosed with the disease are at greater risk for heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, blindness, amputations, as well as incurring serious financial and emotional hardship. Knowing the risks, recognizing the warning signs, and pursuing healthier eating habits and regular physical exercise, is critical to preventing diabetes or effectively managing the disease.

Here are some facts about diabetes:

• One in three people in the U.S. either has diabetes or is at risk for developing the disease.
• Eighty six million people in the US have pre-diabetes.
• One in three children will get diabetes in their lifetime (for some ethnicities that number is one in two): This generation of children is projected to live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents.
• Type 1 occurs in less than 5 percent of diabetes patients and is thought to be an autoimmune reaction caused by genetics, environment or other factors.
• Type 2 is generally associated with aging, being overweight and/or physically inactive, having a family history of Type 2 or a personal history with gestational diabetes.

Lifestyle changes can be tough. Diabetics who smoke must quit immediately. This is a lifestyle change that may be difficult but is of the utmost importance in helping to defeat diabetes.

The Defeat Diabetes organization has devoted the entire month of April to activities to get pre-diabetics and diabetics started on the right track. Some of the regular activities include: Meatless Mondays, Take the Stairs Tuesday, Water Wednesday, Walk from the Back of the Parking Lot Thursday, and New Veggie Friday. Each weekend is dedicated to physical activity and getting outdoors.

Some medical experts specifically recommend swimming for exercise, as it is not weight bearing yet provides cardiovascular benefits. In addition, swimming helps build muscle while sparing the feet—many diabetics have pain when they walk or may even be numb in their feet, which puts them at a high risk for accidents.

Diet changes can also help defeat diabetes

• Slowly change your diet by replacing soda pop with tea or water.
• Replace high fat items with lower fat alternatives.
• Add more vegetables, fruits and fiber.
• Drink at least eight glasses of plain, non-flavored, additive-free water per day.

Medical experts point out there is no way to prevent Type 1 diabetes but Type 2 is preventable by doing the following four things year round:

1. Eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
2. Eat three servings of whole grains daily.
3. Get 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity five times a week.
4. Lose 5 percent of your body weight.

This regimen can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 55 percent.