prevent diabetes

to avoid diabetes

Diabetes causes high levels of sugar in the blood. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to many serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, dental problems, and foot or leg amputation. Warning signs include being very thirsty, blurry vision, needing to use the bathroom often, tingling in the hands or feet, feeling very tired, cuts healing slowly, and losing weight suddenly or without knowing why. Some people are more likely to get diabetes. The risk is greater for Hispanics, Blacks, Native Americans, and Asians, and those who:

• Are over age 45
• Have diabetes in their family
• Are overweight
• Do not exercise often
• Have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease
• Are women who had diabetes during pregnancy or delivered a baby weighing more than 9 pounds

Many people think there is no way to stop diabetes, especially if others in their family have had it. But research shows that for people more likely to get type 2 diabetes, losing a small amount of weight helps them avoid or delay the diabetes. For a 200-pound person, losing 10-14 pounds can have a big effect. Eating less fat and being active at least 2 1/2 hours per week also helps prevent diabetes.

IF YOU HAVE DIABETES

There are things you can do to control it, so it does not control you! There is a lot to learn. Ask your doctor or health care provider about an appointment with a diabetes educator. Diabetes educators help you learn about caring for yourself. They will teach you about:

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.cdc.gov/diabetes

www.diabetes.org

www.ct.gov/dph