Stop Diabetes Before it Strikes

Smokey the Bear might say “only YOU can prevent wildfires,” but there’s something else that’s often preventable: diabetes.

Over 20 million Americans – that’s 7 percent of the population – have diabetes. Even more alarming is that roughly one-third of these people have not yet been diagnosed and another 54 million have “pre-diabetes,” which occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal yet not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. A health professional may diagnose prediabetes when fasting blood glucose (sugar) levels are between 100 and 125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone required to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. The disease comes in two forms: Type 1, which affects 5-10 percent of diabetics and typically begins in childhood; and Type 2, which affects 90-95 percent of diabetics and usually begins later in life. Type 2 diabetes is often linked to lifestyle –particularly obesity and inactivity.

• Increase your activity level. Walking just 30 minutes a day can help stall diabetes.
• Eat a healthy diet that’s low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables.
• Spread out your intake of carbohydrates. Eating too many sugary or starchy foods can cause rapid rises and falls in your blood sugar, which results in high releases of insulin.
• Lose weight if you are overweight. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight and 30 percent are obese. Studies show that losing just 5-10 percent of your body weight can prevent or delay diabetes. So if you weigh 180 pounds, losing fewer than 20 pounds can make a big difference.

Why Lifestyle is Important

As people become overweight, they also become less able to properly respond to insulin. This causes their blood sugar to reach dangerously high levels.

Exercise and weight loss improve the body’s ability to respond to insulin. That’s why people with diabetes or pre-diabetes who exercise and lose weight usually can lower their blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar also improves through something called “carbohydrate counting.” Carbohydrates are the body’s quickest and easiest source of sugar. Eating too many carbohydrates at once can make your blood sugar skyrocket. Not eating enough carbohydrates can make your blood sugar drop. But if you spread out the carbohydrates you eat throughout the day, you can keep your blood sugar levels steady and as close to normal as possible. Carbohydrate counting can help you do that. 

Symptoms of Diabetes

Call your doctor if you experience the following symptoms – particularly if you’re pre-diabetic:

1. Excessive thirst
2. Frequent urination
3. Extreme hunger
4. Unusual weight loss
5. Increased fatigue
6. Irritability
7. Blurry vision

Many people first learn they are diabetic when they are diagnosed with a complication of diabetes such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, or periodontal (gum) disease. That’s why it’s so important to stay current with blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar screenings.  Talk to your doctor about how often you should be screened, based on your risk factors and lifestyle.

Take Care of Yourself, Get Cash Back

Remember: You earn points on your LifeSteps personal scorecard when you:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat right
• Enjoy an active lifestyle
• Get regular health screenings

And you can retake the scorecard every four months – so it’s never too late to make changes!

Have Questions? Need More Info? Call a Health Coach!

Personal health information provided to a LifeSteps health coach is protected by federal and state privacy laws and will not be disclosed to American Standard Companies except as authorized by law for administration of the company's group health plans.