Turn Back the Clock on Diabetes

Monday, November 14, was World Diabetes Day, an international event started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness and education on diabetes. Today, WHO estimates that more than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes. Without intervention, this number is expected to more than double by 2030.

Every ten seconds, two people in the world develop diabetes and one person dies of the disease. In the United States, California has more new cases of diabetes each year than any other state in the nation, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

On California’s San Francisco Peninsula, Mills-Peninsula Health Services educates patients and the community year-round about diabetes risk factors and what people can do to prevent or reduce their risk of this growing trend.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

“Often people think they can’t make any changes, but small steps can produce big rewards in preventing type 2 diabetes,” said Donna deKay, R.D., certified diabetes educator and outpatient nutritionist at Mills-Peninsula Health Services.

Recently, a landmark three-year study of 3,234 people called the Diabetes Prevention Program found as little as 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, coupled with a weight loss of five to 10 percent of body weight, produces a 58 percent reduction in risk of developing diabetes. This diet and exercise approach was as or more effective than medication in slowing and preventing diabetes.

“A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is a great time to take action. We can turn back the clock,” deKay said.

Pre-diabetes

Pre-diabetes means blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Unless they take action, people with pre-diabetes are likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. According to the ADA, 79 million people in the United States have pre-diabetes and most don’t know it. People with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history of diabetes are at a higher risk for diabetes.

Online Diabetes Risk Test

The ADA website offers a short Online Diabetes Risk Test to help people determine whether they are at low, moderate or high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The test asks simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risks for pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. If an individual is at high risk, he or she is encouraged to talk with his or her health care provider.

Learn more:

Diabetes education, prevention information on Mills-Peninsula Website

American Diabetes Association Website