Sadly, Type 2 Diabetes is quite common in the United States and the numbers of individuals who suffer from the disease are expected to rise over the next decade.
We gathered some statistics from the National Diabetes Statistic Report, here are some key findings:
- 37.3 million Americans—about 1 in 10—have diabetes. About 1 in 5 people with diabetes don’t know they have it.
- 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have pre-diabetes and more than 8 in 10 adults with pre-diabetes don’t know they have it.
- For people aged 10 to 19 years, new cases of type 2 diabetes increased for all racial and ethnic minority groups, especially Black teens.
- For adults with diagnosed diabetes:
- 69% had high blood pressure, and 44% had high cholesterol.
- 39% had chronic kidney disease, and 12% reported having vision impairment or blindness.
- Diabetes was highest among Black and Hispanic/Latino adults, in both men and women.
As you can see, the health problems surrounding Type 2 Diabetes and managing those problems are significant. The key is to identify if you or a loved one are prediabetic and make lifestyle changes to prevent crossing the line to diabetic.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects HOW your body turns food into energy. Most people’s bodies produce the hormone insulin naturally – it helps convert sugars from the food we eat into that energy that the body uses or stores. When you have diabetes your body struggles with insulin. Type 1 diabetics don’t produce their own insulin, so they need to support their body daily with insulin to survive. Type 2 diabetics make insulin, but their bodies don’t use it well.
Good news – Type 2 Diabetes can often be prevented or reversed.
Risk Factors and Managing the Disease**
According the Mayo Clinic – the following are some of the risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes
- Being overweight or obese is a main risk.
- Fat distribution.Storing fat mainly in your abdomen — rather than your hips and thighs — indicates a greater risk. Your risk of type 2 diabetes rises if you're a man with a waist circumference above 40 inches (101.6 centimeters) or a woman with a measurement above 35 inches (88.9 centimeters).
- The less active you are, the greater your risk. Physical activity helps control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.
- Family history.The risk of type 2 diabetes increases if your parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes.
- Race and ethnicity.Although it's unclear why, people of certain races and ethnicities — including Black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian people, and Pacific Islanders — are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than white people are.
- Blood lipid levels.An increased risk is associated with low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the "good" cholesterol — and high levels of triglycerides.
- The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 45.
- Pre-diabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Left untreated, pre-diabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes.
- Areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and neck.This condition often indicates insulin resistance.
Managing Type 2 Diabetes starts with simple shifts in Diet and Exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. In our article “You are what you eat” – you find the recipe for a well-rounded diet – we encourage you to work with a nutritionist to find a healthy balance, number of calories and what your bodies needs to support healthy aging.
Daily movement is important – not only to maintain a healthy weight, but also exercise supports healthy bones, healthy heart and healthy circulation!
Here’s a quick checklist:
- Exercise regularly
- Eat whole complex carbs versus processed carbs – eat a sweet potato versus a cookie!
- Eat more fiber – plants, plants, and more plants –healthy fruits and vegetables
- Drink water and stay hydrated
- Implement portion control – understanding what your body needs to fuel efficiently
- Choose foods with a low glycemic index - these will manage spikes in insulin
- Try to manage your stress levels – mediation, exercise and yoga help!
- Monitor your blood sugar levels
Making these shifts in lifestyle is a great start at either preventing or reversing Type 2 Diabetes. A little goes a long way!
**As always, you should consult with your physician if you are concerned you are experiencing health issues or concerns – this article isn’t meant to be medical advice simply information and guidance.