Diabetic United

Many people don't realize they have diabetes. Researchers say at least 7.8% of the U.S. population, or some 23.6 million people, have diabetes, including 5.7 million who don’t know they do. Here are some interesting facts:

23.1% of people 60 and older, or 12.2 million people, have diabetes.1
By 2034, this number will increase to 44.1 million.1
Diabetes is more common among non-whites; African-Americans are more likely to develop the disease than either whites or Hispanics.1
African-Americans are more likely to die from diabetes than either Hispanics or whites.1

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you can still live a full, long and health life. Since diabetes is a unique disease where you are responsible for the majority of your own care, to achieve the life you want will depend in large part on your will and determination.

Here are a few items to consider when mapping out a plan to achieve the life you want.

Diet and Nutrition
Blood Glucose monitoring
Exercising
Weight Management

Diet and Nutrition
The best diet is one you can follow for the rest of your life. First, try to limit how many sweet foods you eat. Carbohydrates are one of the big players in diabetes management. Eat whole grain foods instead of processed, sugar-laden foods. Increase your intake of vegetables and fruits; try for 5 to 7 servings a day. Limit the amount of fatty foods you eat. Limit alcohol consumption. If you do drink, keep it to 1 to 2 a day.

Blood Glucose monitoring
Blood glucose monitoring lets you know if your levels are too high or too low. It's the best way to gauge how well your blood glucose is being controlled. The better your control is now, the lower your risk of future complications.

Exercising and Weight Management
Excess weight can make your diabetes more difficult to control. Fat cells are more resistant to insulin than lean muscle cells, so too much body fat makes it that much harder for your body to use the insulin it makes or you inject. Maintaining a healthy weight is key to managing your diabetes. Exercising is one way to help you manage your weight. Also, physical activity not only helps you achieve beneficial weight loss, it can lower your blood sugar and help your cells accept insulin more efficiently.

These are just a few tips to help you live a healthy and long life with diabetes. Coping with diabetes may be difficult in the beginning, but with a plan and determination you can live life as if this disease didn’t affect you.

Source:

1. http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20101201/diabetes-cuts-years-off-life-span-of-americans