American Diabetes Month stresses dangers

With November being American Diabetes Month, it has been revealed that someone in the United StatesUnited States is diagnosed with the metabolic condition every 17 seconds, with 79 million people thought to be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the country.
Figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have also shown that African Americans are at a greater risk for reasons such as genetics, lifestyle, diet and lack of exercise. Risk factors for the onset of diabetes include high cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure.
The CDC also reported that a third of all American adults could suffer from diabetes by 2050 unless people make changes to their diet and take more exercise, even if there is a family history of diabetes. They recommend a diet containing more fruit and vegetables, especially non-starchy vegetables, and whole wheat pasta and rice rather than processed grain products.
Melody Poindexter, a programs director at the American Diabetes Associatio, pointed out “We encourage testing of A1C [test that measures average blood glucose level] on a regular basis. The types of diabetes are gestational [pregnant women] type 1 diabetes where patients have to take medicine [insulin] to regulate their blood sugar and type II that can be regulated with nutrition and physical activity.”