Talk to your physician or diabetes educator before making any changes to the © 2005 American Association of Diabetes Educators. …
THE COUNTY OF CHESTER
COMMISSIONERS Carol Aichele Terence Farrell Kathi Cozzone CHESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Chester County Government Services Center 601 Westtown Road, Suite 290 West Chester, PA 19380-0990 610-344-6225 FAX: 610-344-6727 wwwchescoorg/health MARGARET C RIVELLO, MBA Public Health Administrator
JOHN P MAHER, MD, MPH County Health Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, November 3, 2008 News Release 48 For more information call 610-344-5205 Joan Scott, RN, Public Health Educator
November is American Diabetes Month
The Chester County Health Department reminds residents that November is American Diabetes Month In Chester County, 6 of adults have been told they have diabetes Nationwide, 8 236 million of Americans have diabetes and 57 million have pre-diabetes Nearly one-quarter 57 million are unaware that they have the disease The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be 174 billion Diabetes is a condition that can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, eye problems, kidney disease, nerve damage, dental disease and bone infections Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or does not effectively use
the insulin produced This results in too much glucose, or sugar, in the bloodstream Type 1 diabetes usually starts early in life and results from the bodys failure to produce insulin In Type 2 diabetes, the body doesnt produce enough insulin, or does not use insulin well As a result, the body cannot convert food into energy Most people have pre-diabetes before they develop Type 2 diabetes, usually in about 10 years
National Institutes of Health Their blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to
be diagnosed as diabetes Recent studies show that people with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the progression return their blood glucose levels to normal with simple lifestyle changes
These lifestyle changes include losing weight if needed Too much body fat interferes with the bodys ability to use insulin Try these tips to lose weight: Eat smaller portions at each meal Losing even 5-10 of your body weight can help Eat a healthy diet Limit sweets, fats and junk foods 
Avoid empty calories in soft drinks and other beverages that contain high fructose corn syrup Eat more high fiber foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grain foods These foods have been
shown to slow the rise in blood sugar Include fish in your meals 2-3 times a week Choose non-fat dairy products and liquid oils for cooking instead of solid fats Exercise for at least 30 minutes several days a week to lower your risk of diabetes Pick activities you enjoy and vary your activity so you dont get bored Other risk factors for type 2 diabetes include: a parent, brother or sister with diabetes; high blood pressure or high cholesterol; history of gestational diabetes, or having a baby who weighed more that 9 lbs at birth; African-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and Asians are at greater risk for diabetes Symptoms of diabetes develop gradually and often go unnoticed The most common warning signs are increased thirst and frequent urination Other symptoms include constant hunger, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, fatigue and unexplained numbness in the hands or feet If you are at risk or experiencing symptoms, ask your health care provider to test you for diabetes Experts recommend the test for those over 45 and overweight Those under 45 should be tested if they are overweight and have one or more risk factor Diabetes can be managed with proper treatment
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin by injection Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by following a healthy meal plan and exercise program, and taking oral medication It is also important to control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
The Health Department provides programs for screening, education, referral and follow-up for high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and anemia These screenings provide an opportunity to learn more about the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure and are available to individual groups schools, businesses, community organizations, etc and at set locations in the county For more information, call 610-344-6490 For more information on diabetes, visit our website 30
