Knowing what you should know but don't...

In the November 2011 issue of Today's Dietician, there is an article by Lindsay Getz (see here), entitled, "Stop Diabetes in its Tracks", that caught my attention. What grabbed my attention was the statistic cited in the article that nearly 80 million people are prediabetic, meaning they have manifested some form of insulin resistance but aren't quite into full blown diabetes. If you combine that with the 24 million adults diagnosed with diabetes that means that a full 1/3 of the US population has problems managing the blood sugar levels in their bodies. This is a staggering number and potentially a huge problem because people with pre-diabetes are at risk for developing full blown diabetes within 10 years.

What is especially tragic is that type 2 diabetes is a disease that can be avoided or prevented. But how can you avoid something if you don't know you have it? Well, first - go to your doctor and get a check-up. Ask specifically for blood work testing for diabetes. They aren't expensive and typically will be covered by most health insurance. Use the posted image (from a great education piece on medscape, see here) as a reference as to where you are with respect to blood sugar management.

Second, if you arediagnosed with diabetes, ACT NOW! Do not delay. There are very simple things that you can do that make a big difference. One - eat better. Eat more vegetables, more lean protein and cut out the refined carbohydrates (think sugars). Consume more dietary fiber (think Bios Life Slim). Slim is a great way to moderate your blood sugar levels. Two - get moving. Exercise improves your body's ability to utilize insulin.

Lastly, get educated. Learn, read, and listen to people who can tell you what is going on with your body. Talk to certified diabetes educators. Talk to your physician. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It's your life that is on the line. A simple program that gives you all of that is the Make Life Better Transformation Experience (see here). Remember, don't delay. Get started today!