American Diabetes Month underway in Utah

Educating people about how to treat and possibly delay diabetes is the focus of American Diabetes Month in Utah and elsewhere. Image courtesy of the American Diabetes Association.

SALT LAKE CITY – Creating more awareness about a disease that affects about one in 10 Utah residents is what American Diabetes Month in November is all about, according to Jeff Bird, executive director, American Diabetes Association in Utah and Nevada. He said about 95 percent of cases are Type 2 diabetes, which happens when the body is not using insulin properly.

Bird said a healthy diet and at least 30 minutes of daily exercise can be critical in treating, and possibly preventing, the disease.

“If you are healthy and if you do exercise and are active and you are conscious about what you put into your body, you can certainly live a much healthier lifestyle and delay the onset of diabetes,” Bird said.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Another 79 million Americans have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin. It is treated by injecting insulin into the body. Bird said advances in medical technology, such as the insulin pump, are making living with the disease more tolerable.

“I run into people everyday and interact with kids and adults who live meaningful, athletic and productive lives with diabetes. It certainly doesn’t slow you down like it used to,” he said.

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs later in life. Type 1 generally attacks children and teenagers. The main symptoms of diabetes include chronic thirst and urination, sudden weight loss, fatigue and, in some cases, chronic hunger.

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