Guarding Against Diabetes: Strategies for Awareness and Prevention…
Approximately 993,082 people in Illinois, or 10.0% of the adult population, have diagnosed diabetes. An additional 296,000 people in Illinois have diabetes but don't know it, greatly increasing their health risk. We gathered some statistics to help us understand how much it affecting our society.
Diabetes impacts approximately 34.2 million Americans. That’s about 10.5 percent of the U.S. population.
Of those living with diabetes, 7.3 million – 1 in 7 adults – don’t know they have it.
The risk of developing diabetes increases with age. But there are other factors, too. Ethnic background may increase your risk.
An additional 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year.
There are two types of diabetes. While Type 1 diabetes is not as preventable, it can be managed well with insulin injections. Managing Type 1 diabetes might also require frequent blood sugar monitoring, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. Education is key to learning how to manage symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. However, type 2 is much more preventable, and some actions can be taken.
Ways to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes:
Eliminate sugar and refined carbs
Work out regularly and avoid a sedentary lifestyle
Make water the primary beverage
Maintain a healthy weight
Quit smoking
Eat a high fiber diet
Optimize Vitamin D levels
Take natural herbs, such as tumeric and berberine, that increase insulin sensitivity
Type 2 diabetes is not preventable for everyone. However, making healthy choices provides the best chance of not getting it. In the United States, 9 out of every 10 cases of diabetes can be avoided if the above lifestyle changes are implemented. Families, home care service providers and caregivers can all work together to make healthy choices easier.