The holidays are just around the corner, and many of you have probably already started your shopping. But if you have anything else on your shopping list like losing weight, keep reading for some very helpful information. November is American Diabetes Month, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has set aside this time to remind people about diabetes.
There are risk factors to getting Type 2 diabetes. The CDC reports that one in three adults are already diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Therefore, it’s important to know the risk factors as well as how to begin focusing on eating healthy foods.
It’s also vital to begin exercising more often. The good news is that with these small changes to daily life, anyone can start losing weight.
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American Diabetes Month and What It Means
The American Diabetes Association® is raising awareness for diabetes this November. The American Diabetes Month helps remind us that there’s a hero inside everyone affected by the disease. In recognition of National Diabetes Month, they share stories from people living with the condition.
It is through people living with a condition that requires strength, courage, and determination that diabetes becomes real to us. It also helps us put a face to the disease, and in the telling of their stories, you understand why they are heroes. The group also has information on what you can do to help yourself live a healthier life.
You do this by:
1) Be aware – know your numbers so check-up regularly
2) Eat right- follow meal ideas found here
3) Find support groups wherever you live
20% of adults have prediabetes but don’t realize it yet because symptoms aren’t present or active. But if you feel you are at risk, there are things you can do now to lose weight and get fit.
Obesity and Diseases
The condition known as Central Obesity is characterized by an excess amount of body fat around your abdominal area. As soon as you have it, you almost always have a higher risk for different health issues, including Type 2 Diabetes.
Central obesity and the risk of becoming overweight may cause a wide range of diseases. The diseases range from having high blood pressure, heart disease to having a fatty liver. Central obesity also contributes to gall bladder problems and osteoarthritis.
It has been estimated that treating these conditions contributes 2-7% towards total national healthcare costs in developed countries.
To provide historical context, in 2000, there were 171 million people throughout the world who had Type 2 Diabetes. Studies estimate it could reach 366 million by 2030, according to WHO data. Rising Type 2 Diabetes rates line up with a lackadaisical exercise pattern and not practicing healthy eating.
What Happens to Your Body When You’re Overweight?
The medical risks associated with obesity are serious. The population in the United States is at an increased risk of developing a range of different health problems. For example, when you’re overweight, you are more at risk of having heart disease and diabetes, among others!
This year it was reported that over 40% of Americans are suffering from being overweight. If these overweight Americans leave their weight condition untreated, it can result in them having severe health conditions. In addition, these health conditions often lead to significant diseases.
Obesity can increase your risk of strokes and can also have an immense effect on one’s mental health, including higher rates of depression. In addition, there could be trouble sleeping at night if their airways are too narrow from fatty tissue around neck muscle groups. When that happens, it prevents you from getting enough oxygen while you are sleeping.
How Does Being Obese Affect You?
The skeletal and muscular systems are not the only parts of our body that suffer from obesity. The extra weight can lead to an Osteosarcopenic condition. Osteosarcopenic affects bone density which will decline as well as your muscle mass.
This leads to a higher risk for fractures or physical disability, which classically has been associated with diabetes. In addition, the extra skin folds on certain areas are painful sometimes if pressure builds up there. Oftentimes individuals don’t know that their skinfold excesses may be inflammatory.
They won’t realize they have inflammation until they start getting rashes. People should be aware of how proper dieting habits and being fit can prevent so many physical and internal disorders. Losing just five to ten percent of your weight can reduce all the above health risks substantially.
November American Diabetes Month and Obese Countries
There’s never been a more crucial time for diabetes awareness than now. Issues like Affordability and Access are at an all-time high. Moreover, awareness of those topics is at its peak as we enter 2022.
World Diabetes Day was established in 1991 to call attention to the worldwide epidemic. One of its founders, Dr. Frederick Banting is responsible for coining “insulin,” which continues to save lives today Thanks to his discovery back in 1921, along with Charles Best. On World Diabetes Day, people around the world come together to raise awareness and celebrate how diabetes can be managed.
Diabetes affects over 468 million individuals worldwide, so in 2006 diabetes became an official UN resolution. The International Diabetes Foundation successfully advocates on behalf of both themselves and other organizations to curb global obesity rates. Education is the key to teaching about healthy living habits like managing blood sugar levels.
American Obesity Levels
The CDC morbidity and mortality of diabetes figures show that obesity and sometimes COVID-19 rates decrease as education increases. There is a difference in the prevalence of all genders and across racial lines. It was found that among Hispanic females, there were noteworthy results when looking at Black males whose obesity problem became worse with the higher education levels.
In general, obesity was lower among those with college degrees. This pattern occurs for all genders from all ethnic backgrounds except Hispanics. However, Asian people do not show a difference by education level.
The link between higher education levels and lower rates of being obese was seen across racial groups. For example, non-Hispanic white females had less obesity than their counterparts without as much schooling.
American Obesity Statistics
The US obesity prevalence was 42.4% in 2017 – 2018, and it’s going up! From 1999 through 2005, the increase ranged from a low 14% to a high 24%. In all that time, men saw a 19% increase and women saw an 18%-20%.
The most recent data shows an estimated 9 out of 10 Americans are obese. There are many people who want to know how this will affect our health as soon as 2022. That is when experts predict these statistics will become alarming.
The projection that will lead to an increase of Type 2 Diabetes will be sixty million adults over thirty-five who are obese. Fifty million children under twelve will qualify as seriously “overweight” by CDC criteria.
Diabetes Health Crisis Solutions
The obesity epidemic is a complex problem with no one solution – it requires a multifaceted approach. This approach includes policymakers, state and local organizations that are willing to make changes to their lifestyle. It is vital to have business leaders as well community members make the changes for the betterment of society overall.
There are several ways we could go about this:
1) Create supportive environments by building more parks near schools.
2) Ensure children have access to green spaces while they grow up.
3) Improve policies around exercise opportunities for all populations.
4) Provide incentives like tax credits or grants from private organizations that promote walking events on social media.
5) Encourage restaurants not to be open after midnight.
6) Make healthy food cheaper than junk food with unhealthy nutritional value.
The obesity epidemic is a complicated problem. It requires providing health and fitness applications for all those who want it. It also requires the involvement of stakeholders, including policymakers. Policymakers who can create supportive environments for healthy living behaviors in their communities.
American Diabetes and How You Can Help Yourself
Move more! Get up, get out and go for a walk. Try different things to keep it fun, like dancing or bike riding with friends.
Whatever gets you energized is great, too, even when doing it alone. If movement isn’t an option, try adding at least one hour of exercise per day, such as swimming. If swimming is not feasible, try to focus on eating fiber-rich fruits and vegetables each day.
Eating healthy doesn’t necessarily mean cutting down calories. All it means is making healthier choices whether you’re dieting or not.
Goals You Can Make During American Diabetes Month
If you want to set some new goals during American Diabetes month, you can start by making small changes that lead to long-term weight loss success. For instance, you can be active every day for at least fifteen minutes and do this every week.
You can start adding five more minutes every week until you reach a total of about thirty minutes each day. Try to do this for at least seven weeks while you cut down on 150 calories every day. It’s important to try to make an effort to cut back on what you eat until reaching the goal amount.
It helps if you record everything in detail, so it becomes easier to see where and what improvements will help. People should be aware of how crucial proper dieting habits really are. Not only will you feel better physically but also emotionally too after changing your lifestyle habits
Use Your Time Productively
When things get hectic at home, or work-you still have an opportunity to use your free hours productively. You can participate in the smallest exercise program as long as you keep doing it every day or every few days.
You will get there. Whether it is walking one block, drinking more water, or starting with ten minutes of exercise each day – you can do this! So do not give up when life gets tough.
Try to keep at what you’ve committed to and know that small changes add up quickly over time if done consistently. Even if you start by making one new healthy choice each week. You can begin by finding out from your doctor how much weight you need to lose.
Sometimes It Takes a Village
Diabetes has no simple answer as it is a multifaceted problem. It takes input from policymakers to business leaders who will work together with their community health initiatives. That way, everyone from schoolteachers to children needs to learn about healthy living habits.
If you can teach people early enough, they won’t fall into bad eating and exercise habits later on. Healthcare providers are one of the most important groups in the village because they have to give patients accurate information. This information might just save lives if it’s truthful and offers health and fitness solutions.
It’s not just a saying because prevention is everything with diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes affects our economy with higher associated medical costs. The higher medical costs are due to complications arising out of severe or even morbidly obese states.
Your Healthier Life Awaits Your First Step
The first step to a healthier life is often the hardest. The American Diabetes Month starting in November is a great time to start. If you think all of the above sounds great but know you cannot do it, then start by making a small change.
Add one new small change each week and see how great it feels when you do it. Then, finally, you have a partner whose waiting for you and will be there for you on the first step and every step after that. UnCraveRX is the partner you’ve been seeking all along. UnCraveRX can be your corporate partner and advocate or provide the weight loss service you want and need. Keep going no matter what because any progress made today will lead towards better health tomorrow. That means we should prepare now – do you know what this entails for you?