Millions of Americans have diabetes and don’t know it
Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes – including an estimated 900,000 people in the state of Ohio. Nearly one-third of those with diabetes do not know that they have the disease. Another 80 million adults are pre-diabetic, placing them at increased risk for developing the disease in the future. Laura Clark is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Union Hospital, and said diabetes is a national epidemic.
“Diabetes is a serious disease, particularly when it is left undiagnosed or untreated,” Clark said. “Everyone should be aware of their risk for diabetes. If you have a family history of diabetes – such as a mother, father, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes – or if you had diabetes during pregnancy – you need to know that you are at increased risk.”
If left undiagnosed or untreated, Clark said diabetes can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation, and even death. With early diagnosis and treatment, people with diabetes can delay or prevent the development of these health problems.
“If you are at risk for diabetes, the good news is that you can take action now to lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes by making and maintaining healthy lifestyle changes,” Clark said.
Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing a small amount of weight, 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person, and becoming more active. Clark recommends making healthy food choices and being active at least 30 minutes, five days per week.
Union Hospital offers diabetes self-management training and medical nutrition therapy services for those interested in preventing the onset of diabetes or managing existing diabetes. For more information, contact the certified diabetes educators at Union Hospital: Laura Clark, MS, RD, LD, CDE at 330-343-3311, ext. 2194 or Ann Strauss, M.Ed, RN, CDE at 330-343-3311, ext. 2394.
The National Diabetes Education Program offers the diabetes risk screening test. Take the online test at: http://ndep.nih.gov/resources/ResourceDetail.aspx?ResId=252.
“Diabetes is a serious disease, particularly when it is left undiagnosed or untreated,” Clark said. “Everyone should be aware of their risk for diabetes. If you have a family history of diabetes – such as a mother, father, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes – or if you had diabetes during pregnancy – you need to know that you are at increased risk.”
If left undiagnosed or untreated, Clark said diabetes can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation, and even death. With early diagnosis and treatment, people with diabetes can delay or prevent the development of these health problems.
“If you are at risk for diabetes, the good news is that you can take action now to lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes by making and maintaining healthy lifestyle changes,” Clark said.
Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing a small amount of weight, 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person, and becoming more active. Clark recommends making healthy food choices and being active at least 30 minutes, five days per week.
Union Hospital offers diabetes self-management training and medical nutrition therapy services for those interested in preventing the onset of diabetes or managing existing diabetes. For more information, contact the certified diabetes educators at Union Hospital: Laura Clark, MS, RD, LD, CDE at 330-343-3311, ext. 2194 or Ann Strauss, M.Ed, RN, CDE at 330-343-3311, ext. 2394.
The National Diabetes Education Program offers the diabetes risk screening test. Take the online test at: http://ndep.nih.gov/resources/ResourceDetail.aspx?ResId=252.
Published: March 21, 2011
