November is National Diabetes Month

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has been projected that one out of every three children alive today will be diagnosed with type II diabetes. In 2010, diabetes affected just a little more than one out of every ten Arkansans 18 years of age and over, but the rate of illness is growing very dramatically here and across the country.

“We know that the prevalence of Type II diabetes is 50 percent higher than the number of those already diagnosed, which means that about one third of adults with diabetes don't know they have it,” said Namvar Zohoori, MD, director of the, Chronic Disease Branch, Diabetes Section, Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). “Uncontrolled diabetes is a very serious disease and can lead to health problems such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, and amputations.”

“It is very important for those who have Type II Diabetes to be under a doctor’s care, and on medication to treat the disease,” Zohoori said.

November is National Diabetes Month, and ADH, in collaboration with the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), wants you to know about the signs and symptoms and the importance of setting goals and making a plan to prevent type II diabetes and its consequences. Diabetes affects nearly 26 million Americans and an estimated 79 million people are at risk for developing the disease. For the past 15 years, Arkansas has been at or above the national average for the prevalence of diabetes.

It is important to know the signs and symptoms of diabetes; however, you can have diabetes or pre-diabetes without having any symptoms. If you do have symptoms they may include: frequent urination, feeling very thirsty, being tired for no real reason, blurred vision, eating more than usual, unusual weight loss, having sores or infections that do not heal or heal slowly or tingling/numbness of the hands and feet. Zohoori says that Type II diabetes is preventable.

“While there are some risk factors you cannot change, such as family history and age, there are risk factors associated with your lifestyle that you can change, such as being more physically active and maintaining a healthy weight,” Zohoori said. “It’s easier to prevent or manage diabetes if you identify what’s important to you and what you are willing to do. Then make a plan to achieve it. People who learn to manage their diabetes from the start have fewer health problems from diabetes years later.”

The good news is people can prevent or delay the onset of type II diabetes by making lifestyle changes, such as losing a modest amount of weight (if overweight), being more physically active and making healthy food choices.

Here are some simple steps you can take:

• Choose water to drink.

• Make healthy food choices and eat smaller portions. Make half your plate vegetables and/or fruits; one-fourth a whole grain, such as brown rice; and one-fourth a protein food, such as meat, poultry, fish, or dried beans.

• If you are overweight, create a lifestyle plan that includes losing 5-7 percent of your weight (10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person).

• Be active at least 30 minutes, 5 days per week to help you burn calories and lose weight.

• You don’t have to get all of your physical activity at one time. Try getting some physical activity during the day in 10 minutes sessions, 3 times a day. Choose something you enjoy. Ask family members to be active with you.

• To help you reach your goals, write down all the food you eat and drink and the number of minutes you are active. Review it each day.

Be sure to talk with your health care provider and find out what you can do to lower your risk for developing type II diabetes.