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CONTACT: Stephanie Marquis, Communications Director 608-266-1683
CHECK YOUR RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
March 25th is Diabetes Alert Day
MADISON - State health officials are urging people to learn their
risk for developing Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.
“Diabetes is a serious disease that affects the
way your body uses food, and if left untreated, it can slowly damage blood
vessels and nerves with no warning.” said Dr. Sheri Johnson, State
Health Officer. “Type 1
diabetes is not preventable, but with regular exercise, eating a diet low
in fat and high in fruits and vegetables, and proper weight control it is
possible to delay or even prevent Type 2 diabetes.
There is a lot you can do to learn your risks and to take
action.”
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and is usually
diagnosed before the age of 30. With this type of diabetes, the body has
little or no insulin, which the body needs to control the amount of sugar
in the blood. Type 2 diabetes may be preventable with exercise, diet and
proper weight control and is usually diagnosed after the age of 40. With
Type 2 diabetes, the body has some but not enough insulin, and the body
may not use the insulin as it normally should.
Before people develop Type 2 diabetes, they have
"pre-diabetes" -- blood glucose levels that are higher than
normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
“There are 54 million people in the United States
who have pre-diabetes,” Johnson said.
“Some three-fourths of people with diabetes have no symptoms.
Testing through your health care provider is the best way to find
out if you are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
If you find out you have the disease, then you can get started on a
treatment plan.”
Johnson said that significant disparities exist in
the prevalence of diabetes. In Wisconsin, American Indians have the
highest rate of Type 2 diabetes, at almost 6 times the rate of whites.
African Americans and Hispanics have the second and third highest
rates, almost one and a half times more than whites.
Asians have a diabetes rate just slightly higher than whites.
Communities can promote healthier environments and
reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by:
- Asking restaurants, school lunch programs, vending
companies, and work cafeterias to offer healthy food choices
- Working with grocery stores and markets to increase fruit
and vegetable consumption,
- Promoting programs to expand community physical activity
opportunities, such as creating new biking/walking paths or opening school
gyms and pools for community use,
- Encouraging everyone to know the risk factors for developing
diabetes, and;
- Joining and encouraging others to take part in diabetes
awareness and community events.
“Studies show Type 2 diabetes is linked to family
history, increasing age, lack of exercise, and being overweight,”
Johnson said. “While you
can’t change your family history, you can make sure you are proactive in
preventing it.”
For more information about Diabetes Prevention and
Control, visit http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/diabetes/index.htm
-END-
Last Revised: July 12, 2010 |
