Many people with diabetes use insulin to help keep their a “worse kind of diabetes” if he or she person (health care provider or certified diabetes …
Know Your Risk Factors
Diabetes
Insulin and Diabetes
Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy This happens because the hormone insulin converts sugar and other food into energy and helps glucose get into our bodies cells When you have diabetes, your body either doesnt make enough insulin or cant use its own insulin as well as it should, or both This causes sugars to build up too high in your blood
Types of Diabetes
This disease has two main forms: type 1 and type 2 Type 1, or juvenile diabetes, usually starts early in life It results from the bodys failure to produce insulin People with it must take insulin each day to regulate levels of blood glucose sugar Type 2 is the most common About 90 to 95 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes It most often develops in middle-aged and older adults, and is often linked with obesity and physical inactivity Type 2 diabetes develops when the body doesnt make enough insulin and doesnt efficiently use the insulin it makes insulin resistance
Who Gets Diabetes
Diabetes is increasing This is because more people are obese, dont get enough physical activity and are
getting older However, many younger people are developing diabetes at an alarming rate This is probably because obesity and lack of physical activity are increasing problems for this group, too People in several ethnic groups seem to be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes: Hispanics African Americans Native Americans Asians especially South Asians
Controlling Other Risks for Heart Disease and Stroke
Diabetes is a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease That means it can be as serious as smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity or obesity If you have diabetes, its very important to have regular check-ups and work close 
ly with your healthcare provider to manage your diabetes and reduce any other risk factors Here are some steps you can take: Control your weight and blood cholesterol with a low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol diet
2007, American Heart Association Also known as the Heart Fund TM Go Red trademark of AHA, Red Dress trademark of DHHS
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Know Your Risk Factors
Diabetes
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Be physically active for at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week Join Choose To Move, the American Heart Associations free
12-week physical activity program for women who Go Red The program offers practical ways to increase physical activity, make heart-healthy and tasty food choices, and reduce heart disease and stroke risks For more information, visit wwwchoosetomoveorg If you drink alcohol and are a woman, dont have more than one drink per day Lower your blood pressure, if its too high Dont smoke, and avoid other peoples tobacco smoke Specific medicines may help you control your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose Your doctor will advise you if one is right for you If you take medicine, take it exactly as directed If you have questions about the dosage or side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist
For More Information
Talk to your doctor, nurse or other healthcare professionals to learn more about diabetes If you have heart disease or have had a stroke, members of your family also may be at higher risk Its very important for them to make changes now to lower their risk Learn your risk for heart attack and stroke by taking the Go Red Heart CheckUp at wwwgoredforwomenorg To learn more facts about heart disease and how to reduce your risk, visit wwwgoredforwomenorg/resources and select
Patient Information Sheets under the Health Tools section
Source:state.nj.us
