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Diabetes

November is National Diabetes Month! Take 5 Small Steps to Prevent Diabetes

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Greatest Threat

 

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Public Health

Regular exercise reduces risk.

 

As many as 20.8 million Americans have diabetes. More than one third - 6.2 million - are unaware that they have the disease. Another 54 million Americans suffer from elevated blood sugar, a condition that leads to diabetes. No wonder some health care professionals call diabetes an epidemic.

In Idaho, diabetes among adults increased 48 percent from 1994 to 2004. Of the 72,000 Idahoans who have diabetes, a third don't even know it. Another 80,000 Idahoans suffer from elevated blood sugar and two of every five adults over age 64 have diabetes. Native American teens have the highest rate of Type II diabetes.

 

What is diabetes?

The body's inability to regulate blood sugar can cause two different types of diabetes. The body regulates blood sugar with insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas. Type I diabetes starts during childhood when something goes wrong in the body and the immune system starts attacking and destroying the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

Type II diabetes starts as an adult and is triggered by an inactive lifestyle that leads to significant weight gain. In Idaho, 58 percent of the population is overweight or obese.

 

Is diabetes preventable?

There is no known method at this time to prevent Type I diabetes. Studies have found that lifestyle changes and medications have been successful in preventing Type II diabetes. Reducing weight by 5 to 7 percent along with moderate, regular exercise and a low-fat, low-calorie diet can cut a person's risk of developing Type II diabetes nearly in half.

 

What does diabetes do to the body?

Uncontrolled, diabetes can damage major organs. Complications can lead to nerve damage, blindness, kidney failure and amputation. Diabetes is also considered a key risk for heart disease.

 

What is Idaho doing to help the diabetes "epidemic"?

Idaho created the Idaho Diabetes State Plan, a five-year project, in 2008. The plan addresses quality and access to care, prevention and public policy. The state contracts with health districts to meet the plan's objectives. In the five northern counties, the Panhandle Health District participates in the North Idaho Diabetes Partnership Coalition with:

  • University of Idaho Extension
  • Kootenai Health
  • North Idaho Head Start
  • Dirne Community Clinic
  • Kaniksu Health Services
  • Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
  • American Diabetes Association

The University of Idaho Extension in Coeur d'Alene offers a "Healthy Eating with Diabetes" program. The eight-hour program meets three times and covers these topics:

  • Why Control is Important, Heart Healthy, The Idaho Plate Method
  • The Supermarket Tour
  • Planning Meals, Resources Available to You

The program will start in August. For more information, click on Healthy Eating with Diabetes.

Panhandle Health District offers "Chronic Disease Self Management ," a six-week class that teaches participants how to manage their chronic diseases. Diabetes is one of many chronic diseases addressed in this class. Click on the class name for more information.

The coalition is working to compile on an online diabetes resource list with links to medical care, diabetes self-management education, patient information and health programs such as smoking cessation, nutrition and physical activity.

Here are links to good information on diabetes:



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