November is Diabetes Awareness Month

This is a special time of the year when many events will be held and opportunities to celebrate.

This week there is a special day for our country and families -- a time set aside to express thanks and a time to feast.

The problem most of us will have is to over-indulge, because the food is really good.

This is also a time to be aware of how what we eat will effect us. It is said that what we eat determines what we are. More and more people are becoming obese. One of the leading causes for diabetes is obesity.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. It is only appropriate to give thought to this disease and to increase awareness of its impact. If only one person becomes aware of the disease and takes steps to prevent it, then the discussion is well worthwhile.

It now has been more than 8 years since my physician told me that I was diabetic. This was a blow to me. As a big eater, it meant changing my eating styles and to take medications. I tell others that I take enough medications that I could have my own pharmacy. Not only medications for diabetes but for other things also.

Most everyone that becomes diabetic has some of the same thoughts. Those who have recently been diagnosed as diabetic are not alone. We all have had the same thoughts, such as "this cannot be happening to me" and the fear of what it might lead to. There is a strong feeling of denial. Every person is different and what may work for one person may not work for another. Still, I think it is good to talk to others who have diabetes and to gives support to one another. We greatly are in need of a support group locally.

Diabetes is an aggressive disease, or perhaps another term could be used. Often in spite of what a person might do, it may continually worsen.

During the eight years that I have been diabetic, I have observed many things and have had a variety of experiences. I have continued to learn about the disease, and feel a strong desire to learn more. It is a case of the more that is learned, the more you realize remains to be learned. At least it seems that way.

The number of diabetics has grown considerable in the past two years and the trend is more and more are becoming diabetic. This comes at a tremendous cost to our health system. The total direct and indirect cost of diabetes in the United States in 2002 was $132 billion.

There are now an estimated 20.8 million Americans with diabetes, up 14 percent since 2003. This represents seven percent of the U.S. population. In 2003. there were 18.3 million people with diabetes, an indication that the cost has also increased considerably.

A recently released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reflects a growing diabetes epidemic. This demonstrates the need for heightened research and prevention and improved health care for diabetes.

Robert A Rizza, MD, president of the American Diabetes Association said, "Diabetes is one of this country's most prolific and deadly diseases. Diabetes touches all of us in some way, which is why we must continue to work together to find a cure for diabetes and to improve the lives of the nearly 21 million Americans affected by diabetes."

"The facts tell the story of the severity of diabetes," said Lawrence T. Smith, chair of the Board of the American Diabetes Association. "With an increased commitment to diabetes research and prevention, fewer and fewer American will develop diabetes. With improved health care, the 21 million Americans with diabetes can better manage and control this chronic condition." Diabetes can lead to many complications. It is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and amputations. Since 1987, the death rate due to diabetes has increased 45 percent, while the death rates due to heart disease, stroke and cancer have declined.

There is a great deal of information available about diabetes. Much of it is related to research and new medications. Still, much of it is easy to understand and is practical information.

It is suggested that anyone with diabetes join the America Diabetes Association, a major advocate for diabetes that also funds and support research in addition to providing education.

The association's Web site is good as well as their magazine, containing good information. I do not always agree with the ADA, still they are a great source of information.

In the November 15 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail, reporter Steve Moyer had a front page article; "Association makes effort to raise awareness of diabetes"

He wrote, "According to a press release from the International Diabetes Association, every 30 seconds a lower limb is amputated, somewhere in the world, because of diabetes." He discussed several points related to foot care.

Each day there is more information concerning diabetes published. One is that recent research highlights diabetics as a strong risk factor for sudden cardiac with the risk increasing with the severity of the disease.

According to a survey announced by American College of Prevention Medicine nearly one-half (48 percent) of U.S. adults over 40 with diabetes are not using aspirin therapy to reduce risk of recurrent heart attack or stroke nor had reported such therapy with a health provider the risk of cardio vascular

When I first was diagnosed with diabetes, there were expectations that in five years insulin would be given in the nose instead of with a needle. That sounds better for me. Still, taking insulin without a needle has not been perfected. It has passed trials, so that is getting closer.

There is information that cinnamon will lower blood sugar levels -- even a half of a teaspoon.

Cherries may lower blood sugar. That would be a good reason to eat a cherry pie, wouldn't it? No, that would be just cherries, not in a pie.