Diabetes can be avoided
Readers of a recent Herald-Standard series on diabetes could sense the frustration of health care professionals. Here’s a disease that is growing rapidly across America, and in Fayette County in particular, yet few people at risk care to change. An estimated 16 million Americans have diabetes and one-third of them are unaware or are ignoring the symptoms and letting it ravage their bodies. There are three types of diabetes. Juvenile, which is insulin-dependent, usually strikes children who are raised on a schedule of shots, timed-meals and blood checks. About 10 percent of the diabetics fall into this category. Another type, called gestational diabetes, develops in a small percentage of pregnancies and disappears following delivery.
Neither of these can be prevented. But the third, most common form of diabetes, Type 2, can in many cases be avoided or controlled through diet and exercise. But those are two words no one wants to heed when it means a change of lifestyle and little support from family and friends.
A letter writer today provides readers with just a hint of living life as a diabetic, where instead of support people often make her feel uncomfortable in her efforts to eat and stay healthy. Diabetics shouldn’t feel ostracized. Instead they should be encouraged to pursue a healthier lifestyle, which we all would do well to emulate.
Consider that it was unheard of a generation ago for young people to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. During the past few years, the thirtysomething crowd has shown a rapid rise in hospitalizations for diabetes, and even children are now being diagnosed with Type 2. The rise in diabetes can be attributed to a number of factors. Barbara Girod, vice president of clinical services at Greene County memorial Hospital, explained it this way. “We have gone from very active, hard-working lives to people being laid off, the ability to use transit rather than walking and, of course, a poorer diet.”
Unchecked, diabetes can lead to heart disease, strokes, kidney failure, blindness and amputations. Much of which can be avoided.
All of us should talk with our doctors to assess our risks for diabetes. A simple blood test can provide screening and physicians can offer advice to either prevent the disease or minimize its impact. But that advice must be heeded.