The Importance Of Learning More About A Growing Epidemic (NAPSA)—By learning the facts about diabetes, Americans can take the necessary steps to manage the disease and live longer, healthier lives. Type 2 diabetes was recently labeled as a growing epidemic in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Approximately 16 million Americans have diabetes, 90 Common Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes Include: Increasedthirst e Frequent urination Repeated or slow-healing infections e Blurred vision Tingling or loss of feeling in handsorfeet. @ to 95 percent of whom havetype 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the body fails to make ing further away from the store, condition called insulin resistance. If left unmanaged, type 2 diabetes can lead to debilitating and lifethreatening complications, includ- trolled over time. Individuals with type 2 diabetes should aim for a enough or properly use insulin, a ing heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and limbloss. The majority of people with diabetes are over the age of 40 can be beneficial. Take an Ajc test at least twice a year. A;c is a test that showsif blood sugar levels are con- target percentage of under seven percent, as an Aj level of eight or greater means that changes need to be made to get blood sugar levels underbetter control. Talk to their doctor and and approximately 80 percent are healthcare team about appropriate medication options. For example, tionately affects certain ethnic populations. In fact, both Hispanics and African-Americans are target insulin resistance, an considered overweight. In addition, type 2 diabetes dispropor- nearly twice as likely than Caucasians to develop type 2 diabetes and are more likely to be insulin resistant. Both groups also experi- ence a higher rate of complications associated with type 2 dia- betes, specifically heart disease, blindness, kidney disease and limb loss. The American Diabetes Associ- ation underscores that patient education is a vital component of a proper diabetes management program. People with diabetes can learn and practice the skills necessary to better control blood sugar levels, and, therefore, reduce their risk for long-term complications. Those with type 2 diabetes should be encouragedto: e Eat small, high-fiber meals throughout the day to stabilize their blood sugarlevels. Engage in consistent physical activity, as weight loss may help to lower blood sugar levels. Even modestactivity, like taking stairs instead of elevators or park- there are medications that directly underlying cause of the disease. In addition to ethnicity, additional risk factors for type 2 diabetes include: Family history of diabetes Being overthe age of 45 Obesity Lack of regular physical activity Low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides Women who have had gestational diabetes or a baby weighing more than nine poundsat birth. If you are experiencing symp- toms or think you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, speak to your physician. If you have type 2 diabetes, develop or continue a good relationship with your healthcare team and take charge of your disease. As the numberof cases of type 2 diabetes continues to increase, people young and old, particularly Hispanics and AfricanAmericans, need to know the facts about diabetes and take the necessary steps to manage the disease andlive longer, healthier lives.
