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For me, diabetes is not a disease I think about as a "killer," yet it is the sixth leading cause of death among women in the United States. In most cases, it can be prevented, so why aren't we doing more to combat it?
It's not a rare disease, certainly. The American Diabetes Association states that, "9.7 million, or 8.8% of all women aged 20 years or older have diabetes although nearly one third of them do not know it. The prevalence of diabetes is at least 2 to 4 times higher among non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, and Asian/Pacific Islander women than among non-Hispanic white women."
Education is critical to fighting back. Diabetes Mine is a good spot to start learning more about the disease. Begin with her post on the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and move on to her compendium of diabetes-related quizzes (some fun, including one quiz that asks, "How was diabetes diagnosed in 250 AD?").
For some serious self-assessment, get your "Diabetes PHD" from the American Diabetes Association. This tool provides personalized results showing your risk for diabetes and other serious diseases, but also requires that you input personal information. If you'd rather not, you can do a quick risk-assessment here.
When my husband was diagnosed as a pre-diabetic last year, we relied on exercise and nutrition to keep him diabetes-free. If you have diabetes, Dr. Erika's Blog calls for similar common sense in treating the disease and includes a case study and a list of 10 practical tips that may eliminate your need for medication. This resource has a list of some natural remedies, including herbs, vitamins and supplements that help treat diabetes.
If you'd like to peek inside the life of a diabetic, check out Living with Diabetes. Her blog includes tips and advice and a myriad of other topics like gadgets, weight loss tips, software and links to other useful sites.
At Pumplandia: Violet's Diabetes Blog, another woman on a journey with diabetes, find out what it means to depend on a machine to keep you alive.
Diabetes Mine also posts about being a mother with diabetes, pointing out that, "Love goes a long way towards fostering good health."
Living with diabetes is one thing, but what about living with diabetes when the diabetic is your own child? A Shot in the Dark gives perspective on how "unexpected treats" for her son can make for complicated decisionmaking.
Sometimes it simply takes a rather unpleasant image to wake us up. reneegetsfit.com shares one that is particularly graphic.
Whatever it takes, if you think you may have diabetes, the best thing you can do is see your doctor or other health care professional and get on the road to wellness.
Please note that this information cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional.
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mipmup.
Contributing Editor, Health & Wellness
For more by mipmup, read:
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