American Diabetes Alert Day

It’s the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Alert Day. Type 2 diabetes is different than type 1. Type 1 is an autoimmune condition. The immune system attacks cells in the pancreas causing it to produce very little insulin, and ultimately shut down. So far, no one quite knows what causes it. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is not an autoimmune condition. It is an insulin resistance condition, caused by a combination of heredity and lifestyle. More than 23 million people in the U.S. have type 2 diabetes and that is only the ones that have been diagnosed. Statistics show that there are most likley more than 8 million more that don’t even know they have it! And it’s on the rise! The ADA reported that since 1988 the number of people with the condition has risen by more than 380 percent!

So what are the risk factors? Some of the things than can contribute to developing type 2 diabetes is smoking, being overweight, inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood glucose. Many of these risk factors are simply life style. Diabetes.org has a risk test you can take – just click here.

So how do you prevent it? To start, eliminate the risk factors. Keep your weight in check and stay active. Eat health food in healthy proportions most of the time. And make sure you have our A1C checked when you have blood work done. Anything over 5.7 signals pre-diabetes – you can change things quickly now! If it goes over 6.5, you have type 2 diabetes. But don’t despair. Unlike type 1, type 2 can be reversed! Make sure you talk with your doctor!

Be aware of the symptoms. If you experience any, you should check with your doctor. The symptoms develop slowly, so pay attention to your body. They include increased thirst and frequent urination, increased hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing, frequent infections, foot pain or numbness, and unexpected weight loss.

So now that you know what type 2 diabetes is, use this awareness today to go get a physical – and make sure you check those A1C levels. Then take a look at your lifestyle. Anything need changing? Start small, but start. Even losing just 5% of your body weight can change things. So go forth and get healthy!

Disclosure: The items below are affiliate links through Amazon.com. If you purchase any of these products through the links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is greatly appreciated!