by Dori Ferriss RN, BSN, PHN
You may know someone who has Diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 18.8 million people in the United States had Diabetes in 2010, 7 million more have it but were undiagnosed!
What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a disease in which the level of sugar or glucose in our blood is too high because we don’t produce enough insulin or we are unable to use the insulin produced as efficiently as we should. Diabetes left untreated can lead to serious health complications including heart disease, kidney damage and amputations.
Prevention for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (DM 2) should start with an MD check up that includes a review of family history for DM 2 and possibly a simple blood test known as Hemoglobin A1C.
Maintain your weight at a standard set by your MD, engage in regular exercise that could include walking 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, and consume a balanced diet. These are great ways to reduce the risk factors associated with this disease. If you already have Diabetes, remember to follow the above and manage the disease before it manages you.
Dori Ferriss is a Registered Nurse with experience in education and treatment of patients suffering from diabetes in both the hospital and outpatient settings. She is currently Home Health Clinical Manager for Visiting Nurse Association California in Hemet, California. For information about VNA California, call 855-VNA-CA11 or visit VNACalifornia.org.