Diabetes Alert Day 2007

20.8 million Americans have diabetes and nearly 1/3 of them don’t know it! Your risk increases with age so take the American Diabetes Association Risk Test to see if you’re at risk for developing diabetes.

What is the Alert

The American Diabetes Alert is an annual, one-day call-to-action held on the fourth Tuesday of March for people to find out if they are at risk for diabetes. The Alert’s goal is to raise the awareness that diabetes is serious, you can have diabetes and not even know it, and that taking the Risk Test is an easy way to find out if you are at risk for diabetes.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes means that your blood glucose (sugar) is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because the body needs glucose for energy to keep you going. Too much glucose in the blood is not good for your health.

Could you have diabetes?

Diabetes is a silent disease. You could have it for years and never know it. During this time, your eyes, nerves, and kidneys may have been harmed by too much sugar in your blood.

Who is at risk for diabetes?

Your risk for diabetes increases as your get older, gain too much weight, or if you do not stay active. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Risk factors for diabetes include:

• Having high blood pressure (at or above 130/80)
• Having a family history of diabetes
• Having diabetes during pregnancy or having a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth.

Don’t wait for the signs

Most people with diabetes do not notice any symptoms. However if you should have any of these symptoms, call your health care provider right away.

• Very thirsty
• Frequent urination
• Losing weight without trying

What can you do?

You can do things now to lower your risk for diabetes by:

• keeping your weight in control;
• eating low fat meals that are HIGH in fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods;
• staying active most days of the week.

JP-8688

JP-8688
Originally uploaded by hollyking.

My first Postcrossing card from Japan.

Malaga

Malaga
Originally uploaded by hollyking.

cow sent me this from Malaga. Man I wish I could have been there. It looks awesome!