| Diabetes has become one of the most wide-spread | | | | increasing physical activity, you can knock out diabetes. |
| killers in the United States. The American Diabetic | | | | A Diabetes Prevention Program study showed that |
| Association estimates that 23.6 million children and | | | | while some medicines delayed the development of |
| adults (or approximately 8% of the current U.S. | | | | diabetes, diet and exercise had a much more beneficial |
| population) has diabetes. And of that amount of | | | | impact on diabetes. This study found that 30 minutes |
| people, approximately 25% are unaware they have | | | | of moderate physical activity plus a 5 - 10% reduction |
| the disease. Diabetes has been identified as one of the | | | | in body weight produced a 58% reduction in diabetes. |
| most common undiagnosed diseases. | | | | And when you factor in that it will cost you over |
| How does this affect you? Well, it affects you in | | | | $11,700 in medical expenses per year, getting up off |
| several ways. | | | | the couch and losing some weight doesn't seem such |
| First, if you currently are not diagnosed with diabetes, | | | | a bad deal. |
| you may know of someone in your family who has | | | | "Sure, physical activity probably would be good for me, |
| the disease. It is also possible that you may be | | | | but I don't want to spend all day at the gym." |
| diagnosed with diabetes in the not too distant future. | | | | It's really is not all that hard to get 30 minutes of |
| The number of diagnosed cases has increased about | | | | moderate physical activity. |
| 14% since a study done in 2005-2007. | | | | The Center for Disease Control states that |
| Second, the economic cost of someone diagnosed | | | | moderate-intensity physical activity is an activity where |
| with diabetes is staggering. People diagnosed with this | | | | a person would experience some increase in breathing |
| disease incur average medical expenses of over | | | | or heart rate or any activity that burns 3.5 - 7 calories |
| $11,700 dollars per year. This is approximately 2 ½ | | | | a minute. |
| times higher than the medical expenses of someone | | | | Activities that fit this description would include walking |
| without diabetes. | | | | briskly, playing golf while pulling a cart or carrying your |
| Third, your ethnicity may make you more susceptible | | | | clubs, recreational swimming, mowing your lawn with a |
| to getting the disease. Diabetes is more common | | | | power mower, playing doubles tennis or bicycling 5 - 9 |
| among African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, | | | | mph on level terrain. |
| and Asian-American/Pacific Islanders. The National | | | | And you don't have to do these things 30 minutes |
| Diabetes Education Program, for instance, has stated | | | | straight. You can break up your daily physical activities |
| that about 16.5% of the Native Americans seen by the | | | | into 3 sessions of 10 minutes each if that fits your |
| Indian Health Service have been diagnosed to have | | | | lifestyle better. |
| diabetes. | | | | Besides exercise and diet, another major factor in |
| Fourth, even if you do not fit into one of these ethnic | | | | fighting diabetes is making your doctor a central part |
| groups, the older you get, the more likely you are to be | | | | of your fight. Keep your doctor informed and make |
| diagnosed with diabetes. It has been said that 18% of | | | | sure that you meet with your doctor on a regular |
| those 60 and older have diabetes and an estimated | | | | basis. |
| 50% of all diabetes happens in those who are 55 and | | | | Diabetes is a dreadful disease. It can sneak up on you |
| older. | | | | without you even being aware of the damage it is |
| However (and this is a big However), the news is not | | | | doing to your body. But you can knock out diabetes. |
| all bleak. There is good news. Recent studies have | | | | Exercise, diet, and conferring with your doctor are all |
| showed conclusively that individuals with pre-diabetes | | | | methods for putting diabetes down for the count. |
| can make some simple changes in their lifestyle to | | | | Feel free to distribute this article in any form as long as |
| prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. By | | | | you include the resource box. |
| making a few simple changes in your diet and | | | | |