New data released last week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paint an urgent picture of the state of diabetes, estimating that nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States are now living with diabetes. With one out of every three Americans at high risk for type 2 diabetes, emphasis must be placed on prevention and lifestyle modifications that can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes, a debilitating disease that can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and death.

“We’ve seen that diabetes has been on the rise for quite a while, but the new data from the CDC is a real wake-up call. One in four Americans living with diabetes is still undiagnosed, highlighting how essential it is for Americans to know if they are at risk and take action, if needed,” said Robert R. Henry, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. “Let’s use these devastating new numbers as inspiration to work harder and stop diabetes in its tracks.”

Early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is critical to successful treatment and delaying and preventing some of its complications. For many, diagnosis may come seven to ten years after the actual onset of diabetes, often only after patients have already started to show signs of one or more of its complications. Studies have shown that exercising 150 minutes a week and losing 7% of your body weight (about 15 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds), can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by 57%.

The American Diabetes Association offers tips to help prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes and its complications:

• Know Your Risk. There are certain risk factors you can’t change, including being over 45 years of age, a family history of diabetes, or coming from a certain family background (African American, American Indian, Asian American or Pacific Islander, or Hispanic/Latino). Other risk factors you can control include being overweight or inactive, eating an unhealthy diet, smoking, or having higher than normal blood glucose, blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
• Get a Check Up. Don’t wait until you get sick to see your health care provider. Schedule a complete evaluation to learn your numbers, including:
• Blood glucose – There are three different tests that measure blood glucose levels: A1C, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGGT). These tests will determine if prediabetes or diabetes is present.
• Blood pressure level – A healthy blood pressure level is below 120/80. Early high blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90. High blood pressure is 140/90 and higher.
• Blood lipid levels – A blood lipid test measures HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol) and triglycerides. To maintain optimal health, it is important to be aware of your lipid levels and to maintain low LDL cholesterol levels.
• Move Those Feet. Experts suggest exercising 30 minutes a day most days of the week. If exercising that long is intimidating at first, try walking 10 minutes most days of the week. Find other ways to be more active, such as taking the stairs and parking farther away.
• Sneak in Healthy Foods. Instead of making a complete lifestyle change, try incorporating one small change into your diet at a time. Choose lower-calorie snacks, eat a salad and a vegetable with dinner, or take home half of your main course when you eat out.

The American Diabetes Association offers free resources for those at risk for type 2 diabetes:

• My Health Advisor – Calculate your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease by entering some basic health information. After your risk is calculated, you can quickly and easily see the difference simple lifestyle changes — like losing 10 pounds or quitting smoking — can make in your overall risk.
• CheckUp America – Get in-depth information about the different risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes and what you can do to lower that risk.
• Center for Information and Community Support – By calling 800-DIABETES or chatting with a representative online, you can request free information in English and Spanish, including the new booklet Top 5 Ways to Stop Diabetes and Get Healthy Right Now!

Source:
American Diabetes Association
Diabetes From Medical News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

As many as one in five Americans ends up suffering from the flu each year and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to flu-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most cases result in a few days in bed, which is far from rest and relaxation for the do-it-all mom. When the flu bug bites mom, it can seriously impact the family, as she may not be able to care for the home and kids as she normally does.

“Moms today are busier than ever and the No. 1 thing they’re looking for is convenience,” says Dr. Lucy Crane, Walgreens corporate medical director. “A seasonal flu shot is the best protection against getting the virus and now it’s quick and easy to stop by a neighborhood pharmacy like Walgreens to get one. We know the critical role moms play every day and when mom is down and out, the whole family usually suffers.”

As the holiday season approaches, moms are reminded of the many reasons they should make time for themselves to receive a flu shot – to protect themselves and the ones they love:

• Holiday celebrations – From Halloween to New Year’s Eve, there are endless feasts and festivals with family and friends. To keep the good times rolling, roll up your sleeve for a flu shot, get plenty of rest to help keep your immune system strong and keep anti-bacterial wipes handy in kitchens and bathrooms for yourselves and guests.
• Travel – Traveling is a notorious way to swap germs with strangers. Seasonal flu vaccinations and good habits, like frequent and thorough hand-washing or use of hand sanitizers, drinking plenty of water and coughing or sneezing into tissues (and then throwing them away) are the best defenses against bringing an unwanted passenger on your trip.
• Job and career – Sick kids or sick moms can result in use of sick days (if you have them) or lost wages. For working moms, it’s important to stay healthy and bring home the bacon, and not the flu, too. Urge co-workers to get seasonal flu shots to reduce overall risk of picking up more than a paycheck at work.

Getting a seasonal flu shot is a lot easier than it used to be, with pharmacies, clinics and even airports among those now offering this important service.

Walgreens has taken a leadership role in flu prevention, assembling a network of 16,000 certified immunizers, made up of pharmacists, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners. Seasonal flu shots are $24.99 and may be covered by insurance plans as well as Medicare Part B. For the latest information on seasonal flu and to find a local store offering seasonal flu shots, visit www.Walgreens.com/flu.

No matter how busy you are, your family and friends will thank you for arming yourself against the seasonal flu this year.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

While the 2009 H1N1 virus continues to dominate headlines, many U.S. adults still have questions about seasonal flu, including prevention steps and the effectiveness of the vaccine, according to a recent survey from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). Additionally, a separate survey from The Clorox Company found that nearly half of adults believe that the 2009 H1N1 virus is the same as seasonal flu.

“It’s no secret that this year’s flu season is complicated. With multiple vaccines, we want to help families easily understand the right steps to help prevent the spread of the flu,” said Heather McKenzie, RN, Visiting Nurse Associations of America’s Senior Director of Clinical Education and Quality Initiatives.

Seasonal flu is a serious infection – it is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths for children, killing on average 100 American children less than five years old every year and hospitalizing over 20,000. Vaccination is the first step in flu prevention. In fact, last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded their flu vaccination recommendations to include all children from 6 months through 18 years old.

Take Prevention Steps at Home
Some flu vaccine manufacturers are reporting a delay in their shipments of seasonal flu vaccine, meaning it might take a little longer than usual for the vaccination to be available in some areas. This makes it even more important to practice these other simple steps to help prevent the spread of the seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses in the home:

• Wash Hands Frequently: Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice).
• Disinfect Germ Hot Spots: Disinfect the surfaces kids touch most frequently – like doorknobs, faucets or plastic toys.
• Do the Elbow Cough: Cough and sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands to help prevent the spread of germs from touch.
• Follow Good Health Guidelines: Eat right, exercise and get plenty of sleep to help boost your body’s ability to fight the effects of colds and the flu.

Help Your Family Say “Boo!” to the Flu this Halloween
To increase the number of families vaccinated against seasonal flu and educate parents on other flu prevention steps, the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, Families Fighting Flu and The Clorox Company teamed up again for Say “Boo!” to the Flu. The family-friendly program is larger than ever this year and even offers an updated, comprehensive online flu resource.

Online at www.SayBooToTheFlu.com, parents can take a pledge to vaccinate their families and help spread prevention in their communities. They can also find out where they can get vaccinated in their areas and get up-to-the minute information to help navigate this flu season, including news updates from the CDC.

“My wife and I didn’t realize how important one flu vaccination could be until we lost our daughter, Amanda, to the seasonal flu,” said Richard Kanowitz, President of Families Fighting Flu. “We are committed to educating parents about the importance of getting their families vaccinated against both the seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 virus. I urge all parents to visit www.SayBooToTheFlu.com, pledge to help their families stay healthier this flu season and find out if there is a flu vaccination event in their area.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent