November is Diabetes Awareness Month. This month is used to raise awareness to the epidemic that is diabetes. Diabetes is effecting families across the world. According to the America Diabetes Association, diabetes affects nearly 30 million children and adults in the U.S. today—nearly 10 percent of the population. It does not discriminate with age, race or color so your best line of defense is to prevent the progression and complications of diabetes.
Eating healthy is the number one preventative factor. Many Americans can find it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle in today's lifestyle. Most families are comprised of working parents, late nights, and rushed meals. The best way to combat this problem is to learn how to be healthy in this new age lifestyle. You need to learn how to prepare meals ahead of time. In addition, making it a family decision to eat healthy, cook together and plan together can make you all that more successful.
Get Active to Prevent Diabetic Complications
In addition to our rushed society, we have should become a culture of convenience and technology. We will drive 5 minutes rather than walk, we spend hours sitting glued to computers, phones, and TV's. We need to make the conscious decision to get active. Getting involved in an exercise program or taking simple steps to move your body more.You could check out the newest yoga center or simply take time each day to walk around your neighborhood, even better, as a family!
It Takes a Team of Doctors to Manage Diabetes
Lastly, if you are a diabetic or prediabetic, get yourself a great team of doctors. You should regularly be seeing your doctors. Your family doctor should refer you to an endocrinologist and your endocrinologist should refer you to a podiatrist. You may not realize that diabetes can seriously effect your feet. You could suffer from neuropathy, circulation problems and much more which can lead to amputations. The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association. There are simple preventative measures available which can help to prevent any serious complications. Qualifying diabetics are entitled to a free to little cost pair of diabetic approved shoes.
Diabetic Shoes Prevent Foot Problems
These shoes can help prevent a small problem from turning into a life changing situation. A tiny seam in most people's shoes can be annoying, painful and may even cut or irritate our foot. If you are a diabetic, you may not even feel the seam. You take your shoes off at the end of the day to find blood on your socks. Diabetic shoes are designed to prevent these problems from starting. Learn how!
Take this month to get educated! If you or someone you love are suffering from diabetes, talk to your doctor about a new healthy lifestyle plan. Get on a healthy diet, start exercising, and get on a plan with your team of doctors to get healthy and stay healthy!
