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November is National Diabetes Month, a time to raise
awareness about diabetes risk factors and encourage people
to make healthy changes.
The National Institutes of Health explains diabetes as a
disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called
blood sugar, is too high. The three main types of diabetes
are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. People can
develop diabetes at any age. Both women and men can develop
diabetes. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood
can cause serious health problems.
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Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and
death in the United States. It can cause blindness, nerve
damage, kidney disease, and other health problems if it’s
not controlled.
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One in 10 Americans have diabetes — that’s more than 30
million people. And another 84 million adults in the United
States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The good news is that we can take steps to prevent
diabetes or manage it.
People who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes can lower
their risk if they make healthy changes like eating healthy,
getting more physical activity, and losing weight.
In 2019, in partnership with the National Heart, Lung and
Blood Institute (NHLBI) the focus this November is on the
link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Adults
with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to die from heart
disease or stroke as people without diabetes. As
mentioned at the beginning, high blood glucose from diabetes
can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control
your heart. The good news is that the steps you take to
manage your diabetes can also help lower your chances of
having heart disease or a stroke:
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Stop smoking or using other tobacco products.
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Manage your A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
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Develop or maintain healthy lifestyle habits - be more
physically active and learn ways to manage stress.
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Take medicines as prescribed by your doctor.
For those with diabetes, check with your doctor, nurse or
registered dietician to see if there are classes available
to learn more about diabetes. Not only is important for
those with a diabetes diagnosis to learn more but it is also
important for family members, community members and other
supportive individuals to encourage their loved ones who are
living with diabetes.
For those who prefer
learning at their own pace, on their own time, Ohio State
University Extension health professionals offer a free
online course titled, Dining With Diabetes: Beyond the
Kitchen. This online class focuses on carbohydrates, fats,
sodium, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The easy to follow
three-module course includes interactive presentations,
videos, activities, and access to trusted resources and
apps. The course is designed for those with a diabetes
diagnoses as well as those who have a loved one living with
diabetes. Sign up is easy and free. Participants will be
asked to create an account with Ohio State CFAES Canvas
where they can take advantage of all the course materials.
For more details and link to sign up please visit
https://fcs.osu.edu/BTK
Bonus! After completion of
the online Dining With Diabetes: Beyond the Kitchen course,
participants receive a printable certificate. They are also
automatically entered in a quarterly drawing for a $100
Amazon.com gift card.
One additional opportunity
for learning, support and online encouragement for healthy
living is the annual six-week email challenge. Not only is
November the awareness month for diabetes, it is also the
start of a busy time of year for many people. Does the
holiday season find you rushing around trying to accomplish
too much? Do you feel overwhelmed with your tasks? Can you
use some encouragement and guidance but don’t have time to
attend classes? Join us for this Get Your Elves in a Row!
Email Challenge. This six-week challenge will
help you learn ways to simplify your life in a healthy way.
You will explore topics such as gratitude, mindfulness,
positivity, movement and humor.
How does it work? Adults
with an email address can sign up to participate in the
program. Once registered for the program, participants will
receive two free weekly e-communications, containing
wellness tips. Sign up today by following this link to
enroll:
http://go.osu.edu/ElvesLucas19 . It starts the week of
November 25.
Information from American
Diabetes Association, National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute (NHLBI),
www.ohioline.osu.edu,
www.healthfinder.gov
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