March 26, 2024 is Diabetes Alert Day. A one-day “wake-up call” that focuses on the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding your risk.
Diabetes affects 38.4 million Americans or nearly 11.6% of the American population. Even more shocking is the fact that an estimated 8.7 million Americans are unaware that they have diabetes. Pre-diabetes affects even more Americans at 97.6 million, and women who have had diabetes during their pregnancy have a higher chance of developing diabetes at some point in their life.
Don’t be caught off guard by this diagnosis. Make getting your annual wellness visit a priority and talk with your healthcare provider about diabetes screening and prevention. Some things you can do now to reduce your risk of developing diabetes are:
Eat healthy food most of the time! Reducing the amount of sugar and carbohydrates (foods like bread, potatoes, rice, tortillas, past) can improve your body’s ability to use the sugars you eat properly. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and drink mostly water.
Move your body! Activity can also help your body use sugar properly. When you move your body, you use the sugars from your diet as energy, thus decreasing your body’s workload. This will help your body use insulin better.
Set a realistic goal of losing 7-10% of your body weight. This goal is achievable for most people with a few adjustments in diet and activity level, and can significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
If you are interested, there is a link below to a short diabetes screening test that will help you further understand your risk for diabetes. Don’t wait until you have symptoms. Get screened for diabetes today!
By: Gwyn Morson, FNP