Diabetes awareness pressed
THE MONTH of November has been designated as National Diabetes Month, when the American Diabetes Association has focused its efforts to raise awareness about diabetes and ways to prevent the disease.
This year, however, the ADA has gone beyond the traditional effort to just raise awareness and is urging citizens this month to take the pledge to "Stop Diabetes."
Today, a total of around 24 million Americans are living with diabetes, and a growing number of children are among those who suffer from the disease. In fact, statistics show that one out of every three children born today will face a future fight with diabetes if current trends continue.
There are several different types of diabetes, each with a unique underlying cause. The most common forms are Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Both are considered chronic diseases, meaning that once diagnosed, they don't go away.
Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes was called adult-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The American Diabetes Association now favors the terms Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, which are defined based on the underlying cause of the diabetes, not on a person's age at diagnosis or treatment method.
Diabetes is diagnosed based on blood glucose levels, and keeping your blood glucose level in a near-normal range has been shown to prevent common complications of diabetes such as eye disease, kidney disease and nerve disease. But blood glucose level is not the only concern in diabetes. High blood pressure and high blood fats (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) often occur along with high blood glucose and can also lead to complications, including heart disease. All of these concerns - blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood fats - should be addressed in a comprehensive diabetes treatment plan for good health today and to prevent diabetes-related complications down the road.
National Diabetes Month is a time to shine a spotlight on this serious disease that leads to potentially life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputation.
The ADA asks citizens across the country to join them in participating in the national movement to "Stop Diabetes" - to help confront it, fight it, and most importantly, stop it.
According to the ADA, here's how you can become involved:
- Share. Inspire others to join the movement by sharing your personal story. Visit stopdiabetes.com and join others on Facebook and Twitter to learn about all the exciting ways to be a part of the "Stop Diabetes" movement. Invite your family, friends, and co-workers to join this effort as well.
- Act. Whether you want to walk, bike or simply tell a friend, there will be many ways to help us build momentum for the "Stop Diabetes" movement.
- Learn. The ADA has many resources throughout the country to help "Stop Diabetes." If you, or a loved one, already have diabetes or are at risk for developing it, the association can provide medical, lifestyle and motivational information to prevent this disease from taking control of your life and the lives of those around you.
- Give. Sign up with a local or regional ADA office to help raise money for diabetes research, federal and state advocacy and public education.
For more information about diabetes or National Diabetes Month, visit www.diabetes.org
