What Kane County Needs to Know About Diabetes
November is National Diabetes Month, and the Kane County Health Department is doing all it can to remind residents of the dangers as well as preventive steps you can take to stay healthy.
Am I At Risk For Diabetes? (en Español)
If you have wondered or possibly been told that you are at risk for developing diabetes or that you have prediabetes
, you should know that diabetes prevention is proven, possible and powerful. Studies show that people at high risk for diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their weight, if they are overweight—that’s 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person.
Two keys to success:
- Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week.
- Eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and reduce the number of calories you eat per day.
In other words, you don’t have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. The key is: small steps that lead to big rewards. Learn more about your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and the small steps you can take to delay or prevent the disease and live a long, healthy life.
Facts About Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes
- 25.8 million Americans have diabetes — 8.3 percent of the U.S. population. Of these, 7 million do not know they have the disease.
- In 2010, about 1.9 million people ages 20 or older were diagnosed with diabetes.
- The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has risen from 1.5 million in 1958 to 18.8 million in 2010, an increase of epidemic proportions.
- It is estimated that 79 million adults aged 20 and older have pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Studies have shown that by losing weight and increasing physical activity people can prevent or delay pre-diabetes from progressing to diabetes.
Local Diabetes Education Center Links
- Advocate Sherman Hospital
- Cadence Health
- Presence Mercy Medical Center
- Presence St. Joseph Hospital
- Rush-Copley Medical Center
- VNA Health Care
Free Diabetes Event
- What: Presence St. Joseph Hospital presents “Diabetes & Kidney Disease”
- Where: Presence St. Joseph Hospital Medical Office Building 1, Elgin
- When: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19
- Registration Details/Flyer
