The Minnesota Department of Health is launching a one-day effort to try to prevent people from getting diabetes. Diabetes Alert Day, March 26, is a one-day “wake-up call” that focuses on the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding your risk.
Three out of four Minnesotans with pre-diabetes don't even know it, and that is concerning for health care providers like Health Partners' Dr. Thomas Kottke.
"50 years ago, Type 2 diabetes was very rare and it was even rarer 75 years ago," says Kottke. "And so this is a modern epidemic that comes from our lifestyle."
Kottke says they are asking that people take a minute to answer questions to find out if they are at risk. If they are at risk, he says there are steps to take.
“People tend to start gaining weight in their 20’s” said Dr. Kottke. “What I tell my patients is that your weight at 21 should be your lifetime weight except when pregnant.”
Some easy steps to take to avoid Type 2 Diabetes:
* Eating Less Processed Food- Ultra processed foods have been found to increase diabetes in several studies. Try to eat more vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains. Avoid pre-made meals and "fast food" as much as possible.
* Moving More- Increase physical activity to reach a goal of at least 150 minutes per week. Start by working in movement for 10, 15 or 30-minute chunks of time.
*Losing 5% Of Your Weight- Moderate weight loss can make a dramatic difference. Try to lose 5-7% of your starting weight. That means losing 10 to 15 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds.
Prediabetes means a person’s blood sugar is higher than normal, and it puts them at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that affects the body that affects how the body breaks down sugar. It can contribute to other chronic conditions or lead to complications like kidney disease, loss of vision, or nerve damage.
“Taking one minute to answer these questions could be the best thing you can do for your health, “said Teresa Ambroz, manager and researcher with the Minnesota Department of Health Diabetes Program. “With the right steps, you can reverse prediabetes before it becomes Type 2 diabetes.”
Type 2 diabetes often has no symptoms, or the symptoms might go unnoticed. That is one reason why one in four people with diabetes don’t even know they have it. Ask your doctor if you should be tested for diabetes.
Talk to your doctor right away if you do have symptoms of diabetes, such as:
Urinating often
Feeling very thirsty
Feeling very hungry even though you are eating
Extreme fatigue, especially after eating
Blurry vision
Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
The state has a Diabetes Prevention Program available to help people make changes.
Raising awareness about the risk of diabetes is a key part of Minnesota’s Action Plan to address Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke and Diabetes 2035.
The test takes about one minute to complete and you can access that here.