Health Tips

Diabetes

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Did you know diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the U.S.?

According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 1.6 million Americans have it. Type 1 diabetes is when the body doesn’t produce insulin. It occurs at every age, in people of every race, and every shape and size. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and occurs when your body doesn’t use insulin properly. Diabetes affects heart health and can also cause blindness, kidney failure, and amputations of feet and/or legs not related to accidents or injury.

Symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Fatigue
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased thirst or hunger
  • Weight loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Slowed healing of wounds

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent diabetes, or if you already have diabetes, to manage it so that you can lead a healthier life. Ways to prevent diabetes include:

  • Losing weight.
  • Eating healthier.
  • Controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol.
  • Quitting smoking if you are a smoker.

If you have an increased risk of diabetes due to family history or if you’re overweight, you need to make diabetes prevention a priority. Fortunately, this can be as simple as eating healthier foods, and it’s easier than you think.

Take the first steps towards a healthier diet by adding more fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and leaner meats to your shopping list and try to include them in most meals. In time it’ll get easier to eat more healthy foods, plus eating healthy foods will help you lose weight.

For more information about diabetes, visit these websites:

American Diabetes Association
American Heart Association
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services