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What you need to know about Diabetes

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  With over 37 million people in the United States diagnosed with diabetes, and 1 out of 5 not knowing they have it; it becomes important to obtain some basic knowledge about diabetes. It is important to understand that 96 million adults in the United States, which is over one-third of the population has prediabetes and 80% of them do not know they have it. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death and that is only from reported cases. Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90-95% of all diagnosed cases while Type 1 accounts in between 5-10%.Over the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population has aged and become more overweight or obese. The medical costs and l0st work and wages for people with diagnosed diabetes totals $327 billion yearly, and medical cost for people with diabetes are twice as high as for people who do not have diabetes. Supplies alone, can reach cost as high as a monthly car payment. Luckily t

Prediabetes and Prevention

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  There are no clear symptoms of prediabetes so you may have it and not know it. But before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes.This is where blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It is possible that you may have some of the symptoms of diabetes or even some of the complications. If you think you may have diabetes or prediabetes, check with your doctor and get tested. If you discover that you do have prediabetes, remember that it doesn’t mean you’ll develop type 2, particularly if you follow a treatment plan and make changes to your lifestyle through food choices and physical activity. Even small changes can have a huge impact on delaying or preventing diabetes all together. Work with a health care professional to make a plan that works for your lifestyle, or look for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized lifestyle change program, guided by a lifestyle coach trained to

Type 1 Diabetes and What to Know

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  Although there are many similarities between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the cause of each is very different. And the treatment is usually quite different, too. Some people, especially adults who are newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, may have symptoms similar to type 2 diabetes and this overlap between types can be confusing. Take our Risk Test to find out if you are at increased risk for having type 2 diabetes. In people with type 1 diabetes, the onset of symptoms can be very sudden, while in type 2 diabetes, they tend to come about more gradually, and sometimes there are no signs at all. Symptoms sometimes occur after a viral illness. In some cases, a person may reach the point of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) before a type 1 diagnosis is made. DKA occurs when blood glucose is dangerously high and the body can't get nutrients into the cells because of the absence of insulin. The body then breaks down muscle and fat for energy, causing an accumulation of ketones in the blood a

The Right Eating Plan Helps Manage Diabetes and Prediabetes

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  The first question asked by most people with diabetes when initially diagnosed is, “What can I eat?” There have been thousands of research articles over the course of years that have detailed eating patterns and healthy habits of eating to improve quality of life with diabetes. Using the Diabetes Plate Method, one can create perfectly portioned meals with a healthy balance of vegetables, protein and carbohydrates without having to count, calculate, weigh or measuring. One key to feeling your best lies in the food you eat. You can start by working with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN/RD) to make an eating plan that works for you. In it, be sure to include the foods you like, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Most importantly, remember that eating well, and adding activity to your daily routine by moving more, are important ways you can manage diabetes. Everyone's body responds differently to different types of foods and diets, so there is no single "magic&quo