Thirty million Americans have diabetes; American Indians 2.2 times more likely to be diagnosed
OKLAHOMA CITY – It’s estimated that nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes with a total estimated cost of $245 billion, according the American Diabetes Association (ADA). In addition, American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.2 times as likely to have diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites and have the highest age-adjusted prevalence – 16 percent – of diabetes among all U.S. racial and ethnic groups, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service.
“Being educated on how to prevent type 2 diabetes or how to effectively treat it if you’ve been diagnosed is critical,” Robyn Sunday-Allen said, CEO of OKCIC. “By finding out your risk and managing the things you can control, including eating healthy, being active and maintaining a healthy weight, you can prevent or at least control diabetes.”
In recognition of November as American Diabetes Month and Native American Awareness Month, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC), a nonprofit clinic providing services to American Indians in central Oklahoma, is offering tips for Oklahomans to bring awareness of the disease and stay healthy.
Find out if you’re at risk. It is possible to delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes. By staying at a healthy weight, eating well and being active, you can stay healthier longer and lower your risk of diabetes. To find out if you are at risk, talk with your doctor or visit www.diabetes.org to take a diabetes risk test. Also, being aware of things you cannot change, including age, race, gender and family history can help you take smart steps to lowering your risk.
Lower your risk and know the symptoms. If you’re a smoker, consider stopping since smoking can raise your risk for diabetes as well as risk of heart attack or stroke. Common symptoms of diabetes include urinating often, feeling very thirsty, feeling very hungry even though you are eating, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal and tingling, pain or numbness in the hands or feet.
Prevent type 2 diabetes. You will not develop type 2 diabetes automatically if you have prediabetes, a state where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. For some with prediabetes, early treatment can return blood glucose levels to the normal range. Research has shown that you can lower your type 2 diabetes risk by 58 percent by losing 7 percent of your body weight and exercising moderately for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
Stay active. According to the ADA, a complete physical activity routine includes four categories. The activity itself, whether walking, using the stairs or generally moving around throughout the day; aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, swimming or dancing; strength training like lifting weights; and flexibility exercises such as stretching. To get started, choose one or two things you’d like to try then set a realistic, achievable plan to make it happen.
Eat healthy. Use a grocery list when shopping for food to help choose more fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Buy leaner meats and lower fat dairy products like low-fat or skim milk or yogurt. Save money by buying less soda, sweets, chips or other snack foods. To cut down on the sodium in canned vegetables, drain and rinse them before heating in fresh water. Also, try not to shop when hungry since you might be tempted to buy less healthy food.
About Oklahoma City Indian Clinic: Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC) was established in 1974 to provide excellent health care and wellness services to American Indians in central Oklahoma. The clinic staff cares for more than 20,000 patients from more than 220 federally recognized tribes every year. American Indians can receive a range of services, including medical, dental, pediatrics, prenatal, pharmacy, optometry, physical fitness, nutrition, family programs and behavioral health services. For more information, please visit www.okcic.com.
