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iabetes contributes to the deaths of over 2,200 Mississippians in 2005. Over 234,000 Mississippians were diagnosed with the disease in 2006.
Diabetes is preventable. Learn more about your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and the small steps you
can take to delay or prevent the disease and live a long, healthy life.
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| About Type 2 Diabetes |
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What is Type 2 Diabetes?
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Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are above normal.
People with diabetes have problems converting food to energy.
After a meal, food is broken down into sugars
and carried by the blood to cells throughout the body. Cells
use the hormone insulin to help them
process blood sugar into energy.
People develop type 2 diabetes because the cells in the muscles,
liver, and fat do not use insulin properly. As a result, the
amount of sugar in the blood increases, while the cells are starved
of energy. Over time, high blood sugar damages nerves and
blood vessels, leading to complications such as heart disease, stroke,
blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infections, and
amputation. |
Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Prevented?
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Yes. The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) found that moderate diet and exercise that results in 5 to 7 percent
weight loss can delay and possibly prevent Type 2 Diabetes.
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I Have Heard the Term “Pre-Diabetes”. What is it?
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Pre-diabetes simply means that one is at risk for getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
If your blood sugar level is higher than normal but lower than the diabetes range, then you
have pre-diabetes. The good news is you can reduce the
risk of getting diabetes and even return to normal blood sugar levels. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity,
you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.
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| Special Groups |
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African Americans
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Death rates for people with diabetes are 27 percent higher for blacks compared with whites. It is the fifth leading cause
of death for African Americans ages 45 years or older.
2.7 million African-Americans ages 20 or older have diabetes, and one-third of these cases are undiagnosed.
African Americans are more likely to have diabetes than whites of similar age, and diabetes is more prevalent among African-American
women than men, regardless of age.
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Hispanic and Latino Americans
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Hispanics/Latinos are almost 1.5 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age.
2 million Hispanic/Latinos living in the United States (8% of the total), have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Diabetes is particularly common among middle-aged and older Hispanic Americans.
For those aged 50 or older, over 25% have either diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes.
The disease is twice as common in Mexican-American and Puerto Rican adults as in non-Hispanic whites.
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| At Risk |
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What are the signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
Many people have no signs or symptoms. Symptoms can also be so
mild that you might not even notice them. Nearly six million people
in the United States have type 2 diabetes and do not know it.
Here is what to look for:
- increased thirst
- increased hunger
- fatigue
- increased urination, especially at night
- weight loss
- blurred vision
- sores that do not heal
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Who Should Be Tested?
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Anyone 45 years old or older should consider getting tested for diabetes. If you are 45 or older and overweight,
it is strongly recommended that you get tested. |
If you are younger than 45, overweight, and one or more of the risk following factors is true:
- I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.
- My family background is African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic American/Latino.
- I have had gestational diabetes, or I gave birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
- My blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or I have been told that I have high blood pressure.
- My cholesterol levels are not normal. My HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) is 35 or lower, or my triglyceride level is
250 or higher.
- I am fairly inactive. I exercise fewer than three times a week.
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| Preventing Type 2 Diabetes |
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Actions to Take
Making big changes in your life is hard, especially if you are faced
with more than one change. You can make it easier by taking these
steps:
- Make a plan to change behavior.
- Think about what might prevent you from reaching your goals.
- Find family and friends who will support and encourage you.
- Your doctor, a dietitian, or a counselor can help you make a plan. You can also use the Gameplan below to get started.
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| Step 1 |
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Reach and Maintain a Reasonable Body Weight
Being overweight
can keep your body from using sugar properly. It can
also cause high blood pressure.
In one study, people who lost between 5 and 7 percent of their body weight significantly
reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes. For example, if you
weigh 200 pounds, losing only 10 pounds could make a difference!
Choose sensible ways to get in shape:
- Avoid crash diets. Instead, eat less of the foods you usually have. Limit the amount of fat you eat.
- Increase your physical activity. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. (See page 9 for easy
suggestions.)
- Set a reasonable weight-loss goal, such as losing 1 pound a week. Aim for a long-term goal of losing 5 to 7 percent of
your total body weight.
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| Step 2 |
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Make Wise Food Choices
What you eat has a big impact on your health. By making wise food
choices, you can help control your body weight, blood pressure, and
cholesterol.
- Take a hard look at the serving sizes of the foods you eat. Reduce serving sizes of main courses (such as meat), desserts,
and foods high in fat. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables.
- Limit your fat intake to about 25 percent of your total calories. For example, if your food choices add up to about 2,000 calories
a day, try to eat no more than 56 grams of fat. Your doctor or a dietitian can help you figure out how much fat to have. You can
check food labels for fat content, too.
- You may also wish to reduce the number of calories you have each day. Your doctor or dietitian can help you with a meal plan that emphasizes
weight loss.
- Keep a food and exercise log. Write down what you eat, how much you exercise — anything that helps keep you on track.
- When you meet your goal, reward yourself with a nonfood item or activity, like watching a movie.
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| Step 3 |
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Be Physically Active Every Day
Regular exercise tackles several risk factors at once. It helps you
lose weight, keeps your cholesterol and blood pressure under
control, and helps your body use insulin. Being physically active for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, reduces
your risk of type 2 diabetes.
If you are not very active, you should start slowly, talking with your
doctor first about what kinds of exercise would be safe for you.
Make a plan to increase your activity level toward the goal of being
active at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week.
Choose activities you enjoy. Walking is one of the best ways to work extra activity into your daily routine:
- Take the stairs rather than an elevator or escalator.
- Park at the far end of the lot and walk.
- Get off the bus a few stops early and walk the rest of the way.
- Walk or bicycle instead of drive whenever you can.
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| Find Out More |
For More Information
You can receive free materials on diabetes, such as tips and ideas on the small steps you can take against diabetes, by
calling 1-800-438-5383 and asking for the
More Than 50 Ways tip sheet.
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Other Resources
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