News About Type 2 Diabetes Should Not Be Sugar Coated!

Here’s the deal. Although there is a lot of talk about being diagnosed with pre–diabetes and taking the precautions necessary to keep it from becoming full–blown diabetes type 1 or 2, your best bet is to keep your blood sugar levels within the normal range to start with!

If you are serious about preventing type 2 diabetes, then healthy lifestyle choices now are absolutely essential. Even if diabetes runs in your family, diet and exercise can help keep you from following in their footsteps. For anyone who has already been diagnosed, these same healthy choices can help you prevent serious complications as you age.

• Start by making sure to eat healthy foods. This means foods that are low in fat and calories. Put your focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains whenever possible. Selecting from a wide variety of foods will help you accomplish your goals without having to sacrifice taste or nutrition.
• Make physical activity as much a part of your life as eating and sleeping. It’s as simple as 30 minutes of moderate activity each day. It’s your choice – take a brisk walk – ride your bike – take up tennis – participate in water aerobics, or swim laps – whatever you choose, it will help you to be healthy.
• Make reaching and maintaining a healthy weight one of your top priorities. It’s time to focus on permanent changes to your eating and exercise regime. Your reward will be more vibrant health, increased energy, and improved self–esteem – which is certainly a win/win/win situation!

Do you know the signs and symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes? These are as important as knowing how to prevent it. Generally, the earliest indication is increased thirst and frequent urination. This is caused by excess glucose drawing water from your tissues as it circulates in your body, which in turn makes you feel dehydrated. In order to quench your thirst you may begin to drink more water and other beverages, which then leads to more frequent urination.

Other signs and symptoms include:

• Feeling tired and weak, sort of like you have the flu
• Blurred vision, which is caused when high levels of blood sugar pull fluid from your tissues
• Sores that are slow to heal, or frequent infections
• Particularly for women, frequent bladder infections or vaginal yeast infections may be a sign that your blood glucose level is high
• Excess sugar in your blood can damage the small blood vessels to your nerves, so you may notice tingling and loss of sensation in your hands and feet
• Gums that are tender, red, and swollen

Gestational diabetes is also of great concern to women. This is a form of diabetes that may develop during pregnancy in women who do not otherwise have diabetes. Research shows that pregnant women who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop gestational diabetes. Unfortunately, infants born to women with gestational diabetes are more likely to be overweight as children and as adults, which means they face an increased risk for diabetes too.

The risk factors for Gestational Diabetes include:

• Previous pregnancy with gestational diabetes
• Being overweight or obese
• Family history of diabetes
• Over age 25
• Smoking
• Being Hispanic, African–American, Asian–American/Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native