November is National Diabetes Month, the perfect time to raise awareness to help prevent, manage and reduce risks associated with diabetes. There are 38.4 million people in the U.S. with diabetes. The highest prevalence is seen in American Indian, Alaska Native, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adult communities.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that causes your blood glucose (sugar) to rise. High blood sugars can cause serious health complications and can affect your heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes. If you are overweight, have a family history of diabetes and lead a sedentary lifestyle, you are at increased risk for diabetes.
Prevention
It is crucial to adopt healthy lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of diabetes, especially if you’ve already been diagnosed with prediabetes. This includes making healthier dietary choices, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, incorporating lean protein and drinking less sugary beverages, such as soda, juice and sweet tea.. It is also important to start moving! Aim for 150 minutes of physical activity by going for a 30-minute walk five times per week.
Management
If you are already diagnosed with diabetes, managing your blood sugars and keeping them within a target range is vital. Hemoglobin A1c, or A1c for short, is a three-month average of your blood sugars and is used to see how well you are managing. Daily exercise and a healthy diet can promote weight loss, and a 5-7% weight reduction can decrease your A1c. Checking your blood sugars at home, taking medications and managing stress are all an important part of managing your diabetes.
Reducing Risk
Along with keeping your A1c within a target range, managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels can help reduce your overall risk for health problems related to diabetes. Scheduling regular visits with your primary care provider is key to managing your health. Maintaining healthy lifestyle changes, including sleeping well and having regular eye and dental exams, can further help reduce your risk of diabetes related health problems.
Need More Help?
A diabetes care and education specialist (DCES) can help you navigate the ups and downs of diabetes prevention, management and risk reduction. Using the ADCES7 Self Care Behaviors- Healthy Coping, Healthy Eating, Being Active, Taking Medication, Monitoring, Reducing Risk, Problem Solving- to provide personalized recommendations and guidance, a DCES serves as an important part of your healthcare team working closely with your provider to optimize diabetes management.
At Lone Star Circle of Care, we have a DCES who can help you! To schedule a visit with Karissa Lucio RD, LD, DCES call 877-800-5722 or speak with your provider.
Blog post written by Karissa Lucio RD, LD, CDCES, Lone Star Circle of Care Registered Dietitian.
References:
National Diabetes Statistics Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html
Self-care tips (ADCES7). ADCES. (2023). https://www.adces.org/diabetes-education-dsmes/adces7-self-care-behaviors
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024). National Diabetes Month 2024 – NIDDK. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/national-diabetes-month
