By now, most people are at least vaguely aware of the diabetes epidemic that has been sweeping the globe. We hear it on the news, read about it in magazine articles, suffer through countless pharmaceutical advertisements and most of us know at least one person struggling with the constant finger pricks and insulin shots. Organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, Center for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health are attempting to wage war against this pervasive disease by launching campaigns such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program, and attempting to educate people on this very ubiquitous health crisis.
Yet, for some reason the numbers keep rising.
You would think that shedding some light the horrifying effects of diabetes would be enough to scare the food off some forks and buns off the couch, but it’s just not happening. This is probably because most people do not understand what diabetes actually is, how horrible living with diabetes can be or how possible it is to prevent it all together.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 29.1 million people in the United States currently have diabetes. Diabetes has been consistently on the rise over the past few decades and is currently the seventh leading cause of death. There are several different types of diabetes, all of which affect the way that our bodies use the hormone insulin to process sugar out of the blood stream and into our cells. Without this process, sugar builds up in the blood stream wreaking havoc on our cells and organs.
Type I diabetes affects about 5% of the population, and is not the result of lifestyle choices. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes developed during pregnancy. This type of diabetes may disappear after child birth, but increases the woman’s likelihood of developing type II diabetes later in life.
Type II diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It’s associated with poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity and genetic influences. Individuals diagnosed with type II diabetes have elevated blood sugar levels, are resistant to the insulin their body produces, and often require lifelong insulin therapy to control their blood sugar levels. It is being increasingly diagnosed in younger people due to an increase in obesity, sedentary lifestyle and overall poor health habits such as poor diet, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
So what does being diagnosed with diabetes actually mean? How does it affect everyday life? Why should you care about this? Well, having diabetes sucks, period. A type II diabetes diagnosis often means that you have to monitor, manage and control your blood glucose levels with medications all day, every day…for the rest of your life. Think about that for a second; first thing in the morning, every time you eat and before you go to bed. I don’t know about you, but having to take that much time out of my day to prick myself with a needle and check my glucose and then give myself medications doesn’t sound like fun. Most people have a hard enough time remembering to take vitamins every day. Many people choose not to manage their diabetes; to ignore it altogether, putting themselves at risk for nerve damage, amputations, blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, hospitalization and death.
The good news is most people that are on the road to diabetes can take the next exit to Get-well-ville before a type II diabetes diagnosis. Pre-diabetes is what I like to think of as the window of opportunity to take charge of your health and make some decisions about what the rest of your life is going to look like. It’s the red flag and sounding alarm.
Pre-diabetes is when your blood sugar is elevated above normal levels for a period of time, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. One in three people has pre-diabetes; many unaware. Pre-diabetes can be reversed through positive lifestyle changes such as healthy diet choices, consistent exercise and weight loss.
Now I know what you may be thinking; diet and exercise? That sounds horrible. If you are not one of the lucky minority that actually enjoy eating vegetables and making butt sweat impressions on your yoga mat, do not fear. Healthy lifestyle changes may not be easy at first, but I promise you they are a heck of a lot easier than living with diabetes. Plus, you get all the added benefits of increased energy, improved mood, increased confidence, better sleep, better sex and most importantly better everyday life.
If you are concerned that you may have pre-diabetes or you have been told that you have high blood sugar the good news is, it’s not too late. For many people, pre-diabetes can be completely reversed through daily lifestyle changes. Implementing healthy strategies such as eating a whole foods diet rich in fruits and vegetables, getting daily exercise and losing excess body fat are often all it takes to completely reverse pre-diabetes and avoid a lifetime of health problems. Many people find that implementing healthy changes into their daily lives can be challenging at first, but with small, consistent improvements you can make a huge impact over time. Strong support and the right resources can be a huge factor when it comes to successfully and permanently improving your lifestyle.
Health coaching has been shown to be extremely effective at increasing positive health outcomes for people trying to improve their overall wellness and avoid chronic, preventable diseases such as type II diabetes. A good health coach provides motivation, information, accountability and guidance to help you become the healthiest version of you possible and avoid chronic diseases.
Whether you decide to work with a health coach, or try to make healthier choices on your own, there is no better time than today to get started! The healthy changes you implement into your lifestyle now will save you time, energy, money and a lot of suffering in the future.
