According to a 2008 Physorg.com post, the number of Americans with diabetes has grown to about 24 million people, or roughly 8 percent of the U.S. population.

As well, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on data from 2007, estimates another 57 million people have a condition called pre-diabetes, which puts people at increased risk for the disease. So statistically speaking that means about 25% of Americans are on their way to or already have diabetes.

The good news about type 2 diabetes (which affects over 90% of diabetics) is that it is preventable AND almost always curable.

So what led to the diabetic problem in the first place?

It is secondary to the inability of your body to properly make and use insulin which means it doesn’t properly get sugar into cells where it can be used.

This in turn results in the sugar instead building in the blood stream (higher blood sugar levels) and causing a variety of problems.
Symptoms may include:

  • Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
  • Increased fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Unusual weight gain or loss
  • Still hungry after eating
  • Excessive thirst
  • Slow wound healing
  • Infections frequently

So what are some simple steps you can take to help reduce your risk of developing diabetes?

 

Get Moving:
Exercise is essential to good health period. Regarding diabetes specifically, it will aid in restoring proper hormone levels and function which is essential for utilizing insulin correctly.

Eat the right way for YOU:
Avoiding sugar, grains and other carbohydrates is a great start. However, no two people are created the same so learn what your body type is and alter your diet according to what foods your body needs….not craves!

Foods to avoid include cereals, rice, potatoes, breads, pasta and of course any dessert type foods that obviously are made with large amounts of sugar.

 

Increase your Vitamin D levels:
The good part is this is simple to do as long as you are not adverse to a little sun exposure. If that is not a great option for you then taking an oral vitamin D supplement daily can also do the trick.

Improve your Gut:
Your gut is full of bacteria, good and bad. The more ‘good’ bacteria in your gut, the better your immune system will work and the more efficiently your body will function overall. Check out your local health food store for a good probiotic that will get your gut on its way to optimal flora.

If you experience any of the symptoms above and have been diagnosed as being diabetic or in a state of pre-diabetes, now is your time to take action. Diabetes is so common that unfortunately people often don’t see it as something that is their responsibility to take action on to get themselves back to a normal ‘non-diabetic’ state of health. It’s more of a, “if I take my medication I’ll be fine” type attitude.

Don’t just accept diabetes as the result of bad luck or being a victim.

Not taking steps to improve your health and insulin function in the body can result in bad consequences including heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, nervous system disorders, amputations and much more.

If you have questions about improving your diet, exercise ideas, improving weight and just make general lifestyle improvements so that you don’t become another diabetic statistic, let me know.

As always my door is open.