Did you know that November is Diabetes Awareness Month? According to the American Diabetic Association, the numbers below paint a somber picture. Diabetes is a public health issue. The most recent numbers are from 2021, showing:
To determine if you are prediabetic, you can undergo a simple blood test called hemoglobin A1C. This test is a 3-month average of your blood glucose.
You can also have your fasting blood sugar test done. This measures your blood sugar after an overnight fast (not eating).
If your blood results come back prediabetic, there are lifestyle modifications that you can implement to reverse it. It will take some hard work, but you can do it!
There are risk factors that can make you more susceptible to a diabetic diagnosis. Anyone can develop prediabetes at any age, but you may have a higher risk if you:
Diabetes is diagnosed when excess glucose is found in the blood, either because the pancreas has stopped making insulin, or glucose is not being absorbed by the cells. There are two types of diabetes.
Type 1 – Your body doesn’t make insulin; without insulin, your body can’t absorb the fuel from the glucose. Excess sugar in your blood can be hard on your kidneys and other organs. With Type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin.
Type 2 – Your body does not use insulin correctly. Your pancreas might produce enough insulin; the cells are resistant to letting glucose enter.
Uncontrolled diabetes can damage other parts of your body. The excess sugar in your blood is hard on your body. People with diabetes are more at risk for heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and other health issues. It is important to catch prediabetes before it progresses. If you are a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic, it is important to follow your plan of care and meet regularly with your doctor or health care provider. You can also meet with a certified diabetic care and education specialist (CDCES). They can help you get on track.
Prediabetes and diabetes are serious health matters that should be taken seriously. It’s important to get regular blood work done, see your healthcare providers, and follow your plan of care. Following dietary and activity guidelines and making lifestyle changes will help you along the way.
References:
American Diabetes Association- https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/statistics/about-diabetes
Do you hear the terms wellness and well-being in the news, advertisements, worksites, the doctor’s office, and in everyday conversation? Today, it seems like these buzzwords are everywhere. But what are wellness and well-being, and what’s the difference?
Sleep, sleep, and more sleep! You probably hear about sleep frequently. It’s a common headline in the news and often a topic of conversation. A question I ask my family most mornings is, “How did you sleep?” Sleep is universal—we all need sleep and we’ve been sleeping since the beginning of time! Most individuals don’t get enough.
© April 2025
