American Diabetes Month

November is the time of the year when all attention is focused on the fight against diabetes. It is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about the known diabetes risk factors and encourage people to make healthy changes in their lifestyles.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States, with an estimated number of 1 in 12 suffering from a form of this disease. Diabetes is a long-term condition that causes high blood sugar levels. In type 1 diabetes (approximately 10% of all diabetes cases) the body does not produce insulin, while in type 2 diabetes (approximately 90% of all diabetes cases) the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function. If not properly managed, diabetes can inflict irreparable damage to the body and ultimately lead to death.

There are a lot of myths regarding diabetes. Probably the one with the largest spread is that diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar. The truth is type 1 diabetes is genetically determined and unknown factor trigger its onset, while type 2 is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors. It is true that being overweight means you are more likely to develop diabetes than those with a normal weight. Another myth claims that people with diabetes will experience some distinctive symptoms. This is not always the case, with many examples of the disease developing in silence and emerging without warning. Being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods can all contribute to increasing the chance of developing diabetes? Also, as we get older, we are more predisposed to be affected by this condition.

You can help in the battle fought against the increasing incidence of cases by spreading useful information about how people can change their lifestyle for the better. Small improvements like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking instead of driving can assure a minimum level of fitness for the body. Regular checkups should also become a habit from an early age.

Learning to eat right is essential for controlling your diabetes. A good idea is to break the main meals in smaller portions, served over the course of a day. Reducing the body’s intake of saturated fats, sugar and salt can be implemented by removing things like sodas, processed meat and canned food from your diet. Replace them with more full-grain foods will increase fiber intake and improve your metabolism. Breakfast cereals made with 100% whole grains, oatmeal, whole grain rice, whole-wheat bread, bagels, pita bread, and tortillas are all excellent nutritious sources that will provide you with carbohydrates the right way. Fruit and vegetables are an essential part of any diet considered to be healthy, supplying the body with the full range of vitamins, minerals and also healthy sugars.  “America Gets Cooking to Stop Diabetes” is an initiative created to inspire people to live a more active and healthier lifestyle, encouraging Americans to cook nutritious and delicious food, and be more active.

Actress Halle Berry

Actress Halle Berry was diagnosed with diabetes at the young age of twenty-two.  She collapsed and stayed in diabetic coma for an entire week. When she woke up, her condition was completely changed, making room for diabetes not only as a health issue, but as something life-altering to the fullest extent. In 2007, she claimed that she no longer suffers from type 1 diabetes and had type 2 instead. The general opinion is that her initial diagnosis was wrong and that she was suffering from type 2 even from the start. Nevertheless, she now manages her diabetes with the help of regular exercise and healthy and balanced diet. Also, she is no longer totally dependent on regular insulin injections.

Actor Tim Hanks

Big fluctuations in weight required by the various roles he played in his career were probably the main cause for Tom Hanks’s type 2 diabetes. The actor announced his medical condition in 2013 and admitted that he had been experiencing symptoms for the last 20 years. Tom decided to take better care of his body and embrace weight loss as a form of controlling diabetes.