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Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2005 | ||
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by eating less and moving moreThousands of Georgians are at risk for type 2 diabetes, a serious and costly disease that is becoming increasingly common throughout the state. The good news, according to health officials at the Georgia Department of Resources (DHR), is that it can be prevented. A recent study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health found that people who are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing five to seven percent of their body weight through increased physical activity and a reduction in fat and calorie intake, said Stuart Brown, M.D., acting director for the DHR Division of Public Health. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar, or glucose, is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause serious health problems. According to the American Diabetes Association, before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes." Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. "Because diabetes is a serious disease, it is important to educate Georgians that moderate lifestyle changes can lead to significant health improvements, said Brown. Tuesday, March 22, was Diabetes Alert Day. Sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, the annual event is a one-day call-to-action to raise the awareness about the disease and encourage people to get screened. Symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, increased fatigue, blurry vision, slow healing of wounds, frequent infections, and unusual weight loss or gain. For every two people who know they have diabetes, there is a third person that doesnt know they have it, said Brown. We want to raise awareness of the symptoms of diabetes so that we can identify those Georgians who are undiagnosed. Anyone experiencing one or more of these symptoms should see a doctor and get screened immediately. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the state, killing more than 1,700 Georgians annually. The American Diabetes Association offers a free diabetes risk test, available at www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp. | ||
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