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There are 18.2 million people in the United States, or 6.3% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 41 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 18.2 million with diabetes.
EXERCISE
- If you have diabetes, or have pre-diabetes it is easy to see the effect of exercise, regardless if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
- Test yourself 20-30 minutes after a meal and do nothing. The following day, have a similar kind of meal, or breakfast, and go for a 3 mile walk, or exercise for at least 30 minutes, so that you are somewhat out-of-breath, depending on your fitness level and if you are overweight. Test your glucose level after the exercise and you will notice a much improved reading.
FOOD
- Minimize foods that contain sugar, gluten, starch, salt, white bread, rice and potatoes, especially deep-fried foods. Remember that a diversity of food intake gives you a variety of trace elements and nutrition. Any kind of processed foods should be avoided.
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