Press Release
Release Date: March 4, 2010
HRCHC Contact: Communications Department
Telephone: (207) 861-3466
Email: Communications@HealthReach.org
Type 2 Diabetes...What's your risk?
 March 23 is Diabetes Alert Day, a day to raise awareness about diabetes and the risk factors. Here is information about diabetes and what you can do to prevent it.
What does it mean to have type-2 diabetes?
When you are diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes, it means that your body cannot move glucose from your blood into your cells where it is used for fuel. Insulin is a hormone that promotes this action, and a diabetic person’s body either ignores insulin, or does not produce it. If too much glucose builds up in the blood, serious complications can occur.
What are the risk factors?
You have an increased risk of becoming diabetic if you are:
- Over the age of 45
- Overweight
- Not active
- Have family history of diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes include:
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
- Fatigue
- Increased urination, especially at night
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Sores that do not heal
How will you know if you have diabetes?
If your provider decides to test you for diabetes, he or she will do either a fasting blood glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test. Both of these tests allow your provider to look at the amount of glucose in your blood after you have not eaten for a while. This can tell your provider if you body is properly moving glucose out of your blood into your cells and determine if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes.
What is pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes means that you have more glucose in your blood than normal, but not enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. In many people, pre-diabetes can turn into diabetes. You can prevent or delay diabetes through lifestyle changes like losing even a small amount of weight and exercising more.
How can you reduce my risk for diabetes?
Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight can help you reduce your risk for developing diabetes. Eating healthy foods and moving your body more can do amazing things for your health. Talk to your health care provider for more information and suggestions.
For more information:
www.diabetes.org
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/riskfortype2/index.htm#4 |
