American Diabetes Association Alert Day on March 26, 2019.
I would like to write that I or my family aren’t impacted by Diabetes but alas it’s in my face every single day. A few years ago, my partner was diagnosed with Type 2 but last year they changed his diagnosis to Type 1. There’s a myth I think that people believe that if you don’t have Type 1 before you’re 20, you won’t get it later in life – but here we are knowing it could happen at any age.
Information and research show that Type 2 can be reversed in some cases. And after my partner received his initial diagnosis, he did all the proper things. He lost weight – from 264 lbs down to 167 lbs, changed the way he ate and became aware of how his body was feeling and how in turn that impacted him during the day.
As a partner, it’s incredibly scary to know that his blood sugar can go from 457 (yep you read that right) down to 79. He started feeling the shakes and not feeling good overall. He’s on insulin and pills to help control his medication and we both pay attention to his food intake – and yet his blood sugar is incredibly out of control. And its’ not for the lack of trying or paying attention or being in contact with his physician- and at some
Just this morning I read an article where a young mom passed next to her 5-months old baby due to the complications of diabetes type 1. I live with this fear every day.
Every day I wonder if this is the day he will pass out or if I walk into the living room and he’s no longer breathing. I am not sure he knows this – but he will after reading this blog (and yes I have permission to share his story, I asked!)
According to the American Diabetes Association, one in three Americans is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a serious disease that can lead to complications such as kidney disease, blindness, and amputations.
What’s Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk?
One in three American adults is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a serious disease that can lead to complications like kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness, and amputations. But type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be permanent—it can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle modifications. The first step is learning your risk.
You can take a simple and anonymous one-minute test to find out if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. You’ll answer questions such as, “Do you have a family history?” and “Are you physically active?” to learn your diabetes risk in 60 seconds. It’s that simple.
Once you’ve taken the test, share it with friends and family—with 84 million Americans at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, someone you love could be at risk.
This Alert Day, you may also consider giving back to the American Diabetes Association so more people can learn their diabetes risk. You can also learn more about this disease, how to prevent it, and how to fight back to help transform your life through the American Diabetes Association.
Every year, I lead 1-2 workshops teaching people impacted by diabetes through a 6-week program on how to better self-manage individual health. I believe the more awareness we raise and the better educated we are about our health, the more quality of a life we can lead.
