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Diabetes and You |
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Did you know...?
 Approximately 20.8 million people in the United States, or 7% of the population, have diabetes
An estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, but 6.2 million people (or one-third) are unaware that they have the disease
Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the sixth leading cause of death in Michigan
Diabetes is a chronic disease that is quickly becoming an epidemic and presently there is no cure for it
If left uncontrolled, the disease process advances and major health problems are experienced such as kidney disease, loss of eyesight, loss of feet and heart disease
So, what is the solution?
The good news: diabetes can be managed and the sooner a person realizes they have diabetes the better. If controlled well, people with diabetes can lead good lives with few complications.
How do you control it?
The first place to start is with diabetes self-management education. The self-management part is important because you can be taught to do this yourself! Important topics covered in diabetes self-management include:
learning about the disease process
foot care
nutrition and diet planning
blood sugar monitoring
taking medications
physical activity
stress management
goal setting
Zeeland Community Hospital offers certified Diabetes Self-Management classes. To enroll in a class, simply ask your physician to refer you to the Diabetes Self-Management Education classes at Zeeland Community Hospital. We will take it from there.
In the meantime, make a point to get your blood sugar tested, especially if you have a family history of diabetes. Find out as much as you can about the disease. Make healthy lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity, lose weight if you are overweight, and limit the amount of foods you eat. For more information call 616.772.7509.
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