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EDITORIAL: November is National Diabetes Month

Tifton Gazette - 11/15/2018

Nov. 14--One in four people with diabetes don't know they have it -- and more than 30 million Americans have the disease, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant, which can put the pregnancy and baby at risk and lead to type 2 diabetes later).

Around five percent of people who have diabetes have type 1, according to the CDC. There is currently no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Most people who have diabetes have type 2.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

--Being overweight.

--Being 45 years old or older.

--Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes.

--Being physically active less than 3 times a week.

--Ever having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds.

Diabetes increases the likelihood of serious health complications, such as heart disease and stroke; blindness and other eye problems; kidney disease and amputations.

Risk of death for adult diabetics is 50 percent higher than for those without.

Medical costs for people with diabetes are twice as high as for people without diabetes.

There are ways to lower your risk for developing type 2.

The CDC recommends losing a small amount of weight (5-7 percent of your body weight) if you're overweight and getting regular physical activity.

The CDC defines regular physical activity as getting at least 150 minutes of "brisk walking or a similar activity" per week, breaking it down further to 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

For diabetics, the CDC recommends the following steps to manage it:

--Follow a health eating plan.

--Get physically active.

--Test your blood sugar.

--Give yourself insulin by strings, pen or pump, if needed.

--Monitor your feet, skin and eyes to catch problems early.

--Get diabetic supplies and store them according to package directions.

--Manage stress and deal with daily diabetes care.

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(c)2018 The Tifton Gazette (Tifton, Ga.)

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