With consideration to the upcoming summer months, parties, picnics, open houses, etc., this column’s focus is on diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which the individual has blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but are not high enough to be considered a case of type2 diabetes. An individual with pre-diabetes is more susceptible to type2 diabetes and to heart disease. Researchers suggest that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, can also occur with pre-diabetes. Type2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease directly related to lifestyle choices (e.g. physical activity levels and nutritional habits). The good news is that positive lifestyle changes (e.g. being physically active and making wise nutritional choices) have been shown to delay and/or prevent the onset of both.

“How do I know if I am at risk?” High risk factors include having a close relative who has some form of diabetes, having elevated blood pressure (at or above 130/80), having a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, having had gestational diabetes, leading a sedentary/inactive lifestyle, being older than 45 years of age, or having a African-American, Hispanic-American, Latino, American-Indian, Native Alaskan, Asian-American or Pacific Islander background.

“What are some signs of Diabetes?” Feeling thirsty often, frequent urination, feeling hungry or tired, weight gain or loss without any effort, dry and/or irritated skin, sores that will not heal, tingling or loss of feeling in the feet and/or blurred vision.

“How do I determine whether or not I am Pre-Diabetic or Diabetic?” A physician can do a blood test, and may need to repeat that test more than once, to assess blood glucose concisely. Common tests include the fasting plasma glucose test, the random blood sugar test and the oral glucose tolerance test.

“How can I avoid getting Diabetes?” Researchers suggest successful self-management requires positive lifestyle change. Specifically, best results are said to be achieved with a balanced diet and increased levels of physical activity. “What else can I do?” Be empowered through education in terms of how to be a successful self-manager. A physician’s recommendations cannot be overlooked, but those recommendations can be complimented with good self-management. An excellent evidence-based self-management class, Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSM), was developed at Stanford University and is being offered periodically in several HVAAA counties. Such a class is a key step for improving health outcomes and having quality of life regardless of age. A class such as CDSM focuses on self-management behaviors (e.g. healthy eating, being active, time management, relaxation, etc.). CDSM has been serving to empower people in local communities with chronic condition (e.g. type2 diabetes) to gain knowledge, to be better problem-solvers and to have the coping skills necessary to successfully manage those chronic conditions. For more information, or to register for an upcoming class, call the Black Hawk County Health Department at (319) 291-2413 or email “mailto:“mailto:rbrinker@co.black-hawk.ia.us”>rbrinker@co.black-hawk.ia.us“

Resource: “http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov“