Prevention, Detection

Prevention, Detection

DIABETES: PREVENTION
AND EARLY DETECTION

by Laura R. Simpson, RN,
MA, CDE

From the Editor: Ms.
Simpson, of the Medical Center of Central Massachusetts, recently gave a presentation
in Worcester. Members of our Diabetes Action Network were present, and asked
her to write a summary of her talk for the VOICE.
Are you one of the eight million undiagnosed
with diabetes? Is there anything anyone can do to prevent type II, Adult Onset
Diabetes?
Early Detection
Eight million people may have signs
and symptoms of diabetes that they do not realize mean diabetes: Increased thirst,
increased urination, tired, irritable or sleepy, blurred vision, dry itchy skin,
slow healing infections or sores, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, frequent
vaginal yeast infections. Call your doctor if you have these signs or symptoms.

Prevention
Type II diabetes may be prevented by
weight control, exercise, and stress management. Weight control means not being
over your ideal weight for your height, if possible. Extra pounds create insulin
resistance. You can decrease your insulin resistance by losing weight. If you
weigh 20% or more over your ideal body weight (for example, a woman five feet
tall who should weigh 100 pounds but weighs 120 pounds or more) you have an
increased risk or chance to develop type II diabetes.
Regular exercise means doing some form
of aerobic exercise (for example, walking, swimming, cycling, three or more
times per week for 20-30 minutes, not including warm-up and cool-down. Remember
to ask your doctor, before starting an exercise program, and remember to wear
properly fitted athletic shoes of good quality. You may need to start your exercise
slowly, if you have not been exercising regularly, for example, walking for
five minutes and working up to 20-30 minutes.
Stress management may be helpful. Exercise,
prayer, meditation, hobbies, talking with a friend, counseling, or listening
to self-help tapes, all may be helpful. Stress results in the release of adrenaline
into the blood--which causes blood sugar to rise.
Feel better. Find out if you already
have diabetes, or begin work on prevention.
A written risk quiz, with an "ideal
weight" chart, is available from the American Diabetes Association; telephone:
1-800-342-2383.