Ten Million American’s Have Diabetes And Don’t Know It

If a doctor tells you that you have cancer, AIDS or diabetes…your world is going to stop immediately!

From: Diabetes Detection.com
Diabetes is growing at epidemic rates, according to the World Health Organization. DDI is hoping that we can help this growing population detect their illness early, and avoid many of the harsh consequences of allowing this disease to remain undetected as it currently does.

I worked with a fellow for almost ten years at an engineering company, and he was the type of fellow who rarely got a physical examination. Although he was a veteran, and could have do so at the VA for no cost, etc.

One day, he had an injury to his leg, and he had to get a blood test because of possible infection, and that’s when he was told that he had diabetes! His life changed right away, and he was not the person he once was! Fun-loving; humorous; sociable, etc. Instead, he became withdrawn; distant and reclusive, etc. He wouldn’t participate in functions at work; no pot-lucks…and pretty much stayed to himself. He was probably battling depression!

From: edoctors.com
If left untreated, ALL types of diabetes can cause damage to the body. Patients are at risk for blindness; kidney damage; nerve damage; heart-disease; stroke and loss of limbs.

In 2001, I ballooned to 210 pounds in weight, and I was going to have to take off 40 pounds to get back to my normal weight of 170 pounds. It was my fear of getting diabetes, that was one of my motivators, as diabetes strikes many over-weight and obese people. It took me ten months to lose the weight, but I did it~ (See: Here’s the Skinny On How I Lost 40 Pounds)

From: Prevent Blindness America:
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20-74 years old.

Two people I know of died from diabetes in their early 50’s. The neighbor who lived next door to my parents, went blind and a leg was amputated…and my aunt Molly suffered the same fate! She was a heavy woman at about 250 pounds, and she too, went blind and a leg was amputated before she died! Because of my fear of diabetes…this was one of my motivators to lose the weight.

From: American Diabetes Association:
Denial is that voice inside repeating, “Not me!” Most people go through denial when they are first diagnosed with diabetes. “I don’t believe it! There must be some mistake!” they say. Doctors who do not specialize in diabetes may fuel your denial. They may talk about a “mild case” of diabetes or say, “there’s just a touch of sugar” in your blood, etc. Though meaning well…these terms send the wrong message! What you hear is, “your diabetes is not serious enough to hurt you!”

For several years, I have had elevated blood sugar, and I’ve flirted with pre-diabetes and diabetes. (Type 2) And, I’m doing everything I can do to NOT cross the line! A few years ago, I read a short article in the newspaper, which said that cinnamon is an enemy of blood sugar. I started sprinkling cinnamon of cereal and toast a couple of times a week, and my blood sugar as remained high but under the line, etc. (knock on wood) (See your doctor before you do anything)

From Diabetes.com
Pre-diabetes is a serious medical condition, that can be treated before it develops into Type 2 diabetes. People almost always have pre-diabetes…that is…blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not yes high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Doing anything worthwhile, takes lots of work; sacrifice and discipline, etc. The things that have helped my stay away from diabetes (knock on wood) are; I quit smoking in 1970; I lost 40 pounds in 2001; I don’t drink and have never done drugs; I’ve been jogging and pumping iron since 1986 and I eliminated most sweets from my life. No wonder I’m so depressed…just kidding!

From: Defeat Diabetes.com
Diabetes is an insidious (to entrap) condition afflicting 21 million American’s, and half of them don’t even know they have the disease! This insidious disease is the 3rd leading killer in the U.S. behind cancer and heart-disease! Diabetes can be life-threatening…but with early detection, can be manageable.

If this article frightens you…IT SHOULD! I showed in this article, that diabetes in nothing to mess around with. There are those, who cannot lose weight for whatever reason, but almost everyone can exercise. Clicking and double-clicking all year, is NOT going to do it! In the year 2008, I celebrate my 22nd year of jogging 15 miles a week since 1986…and that translates to over 17,000 miles! YAHOO…and, it has been worth every step of the way!