How many Mississippians do you know? Is it more than seven? If you said yes, then you probably know someone with diabetes. 1 in 7 Mississippians have diabetes. That’s about 333,000 people, which is why diabetes is a priority at UProot.
At UProot, we talk a lot about preventing diabetes, but today we want to discuss National Diabetes Month and how to prevent the problems associated with diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic disease, but it also causes other chronic conditions. National Diabetes Month is a time for communities across the country to bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on taking action to prevent health problems associated with diabetes.
Everyone can benefit from taking charge of their health. For those with diabetes, it’s especially important. Taking charge can help prevent diabetes health problems.
The changes in blood sugar caused by diabetes can damage your kidneys and blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
Problems can pile on. High blood pressure and kidney damage lead to other chronic conditions, and these aren’t the only problems diabetes can cause. Some are well known, such as neuropathy, kidney disease, and eye problems.
However, people may not think about the links between diabetes and depression, cancer, and sleep apnea.
Fortunately, most health conditions that result from diabetes can be prevented or managed by the same changes that manage diabetes itself.
- A healthy diet.
- Daily exercise.
- Medication.
- Monitoring and managing blood sugar.
- Monitoring and managing blood pressure.
- Keeping cholesterol low.
Managing diabetes can be hard. If you feel down, sad, or overwhelmed, learn about healthy ways to cope with stress. Consider talking to a mental health counselor or joining a support group.
Medication can help with all of these problems, and for many people, it may be necessary. Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have trouble taking your medicines on time or at the correct dose.
These changes may seem intimidating, but they’re easy enough for the average person to achieve – and much less daunting than the problems the disease can cause.
It can seem daunting at first, but most of these changes are small, sensible, and available to people at any age.
Lifestyle changes include things like calorie counting, food substitutions, and of course, moderate physical activity, like walking outside daily. Over months and years these small changes really add up. The Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Preventive Health and Health Equity partners with healthcare providers to offer free classes in these health basics for diabetes prevention and management.
These changes become a part of our culture when Mississippians come together to support each other in making them a part of their everyday life – for themselves and others.
Diabetes exists at the intersection of the three pillars of UProot’s plan to improve the state’s health:
- Obesity
- Chronic Disease
- Social Determinants of Health
Preventing diabetes – and the health conditions it can cause – goes beyond National Diabetes Month!
Read through the updated State Health Improvement plan and find a way to help Mississippi reach our goals. You can read our news section to see success stories and if you know of a health improvement in Mississippi, let us know!