| In August it was announced that the obesity rate | | | | suggest that a patient with fasting glucose levels |
| in Mississippi had reached greater than 30 percent | | | | in the pre-diabetic range (elevated, but not quite in |
| of the population for the first time in history. | | | | need of medical treatment) can delay the onset |
| Mississippi is not alone. According to a study by | | | | of the disease or avoid ever developing it by |
| the Trust for America's Health which compiled | | | | losing just 10 to 15 pounds. The American |
| statistics gathered between 2004 and 2006 from | | | | Diabetes Association estimates that 53 million |
| the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, twenty-one | | | | adult Americans are in the pre-diabetic range. |
| other states had increases in the rates of adult | | | | What can be done to manage type 2 diabetes |
| obesity as well. | | | | once it is diagnosed? Strict management of blood |
| The skyrocketing obesity rate is linked to the | | | | glucose levels is imperative. It is important to |
| surge in diagnoses of type 2 diabetes among | | | | monitor blood glucose levels regularly. |
| Americans. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the | | | | Healthy eating and exercise also affect blood |
| body does not produce enough insulin or is unable | | | | glucose levels. When eating, choose low fat |
| to efficiently utilize its insulin which results in high | | | | options and whole grains over foods high in fat |
| blood glucose (sugar) levels. Over time, elevated | | | | and heavily refined. Add vegetables to your diet |
| levels of glucose cause blindness, heart disease, | | | | and eat fruits rather than sweets. Get up and |
| stroke, kidney failure, and circulatory problems | | | | move more. It's not necessary to join a gym. Try |
| that can end in amputation. | | | | using the stairs instead of the elevator or taking a |
| While type 1 diabetes is generally diagnosed early | | | | walk. It's easier to incorporate a change in lifestyle |
| in life and strictly managed, type 2 patients may | | | | when it is done slowly over time. But a healthy |
| not even know they have the disease until they | | | | change in lifestyle won't always lower the blood |
| are being diagnosed with kidney failure or other | | | | glucose levels enough to manage the disease |
| complications. Type 2 affects overweight people | | | | once it develops. A doctor may prescribe |
| more than any other. It is also more common in | | | | medication, or a combination of medications, in |
| African Americans, Asians, Latinos, and Native | | | | addition to diet and exercise in order to control |
| Americans. | | | | blood glucose. |
| What can be done to treat the disease? A simple | | | | If you are concerned about your risk for |
| lifestyle change could be the answer. Diet and | | | | developing type 2 diabetes, visit the American |
| exercise have a great impact on the | | | | Diabetes Association and take their online |
| management of type 2 diabetes. In fact, studies | | | | screening test at and consult your doctor. |