BISMARCK, N.D. - In conjunction with National Diabetes Month in November, the North Dakota Department of Health is encouraging residents to learn about preventing diabetes and its complications.
The North Dakota Department of Health's Diabetes Prevention and Control Program is raising awareness about the importance of setting goals and making a plan to prevent type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications. Diabetes affects nearly 26 million Americans and an estimated 79 million people are at risk for developing the disease. In North Dakota, more than 37,000 people are living with diagnosed diabetes.
"Even if you know what to do to improve your health, figuring out how to do it and fitting it into your daily routine can be a big challenge," said Tera Miller, director of the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program for the North Dakota Department of Health. "That's why it's important to set goals and make a plan to prevent diabetes and its complications."
Miller says that even small changes - such as losing a small amount of weight and becoming more active - can go a long way in preventing type 2 diabetes, as well as managing the disease.
"Being physically active not only helps in the management of diabetes, it also can help a person maintain a healthy weight and prevent type 2 diabetes. For people at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, losing 5 percent of your weight, or ten pounds - if you weigh 200 pounds - can make a big difference in lowering your risk," added Tera Miller.
Making changes in how you care for your health is a matter of trying and learning. It's all about choosing a goal and working toward it. Making a plan and taking the first step will help you reach your goal. The Department of Health offers these tips:
1. Think about what is important to your health. What are you willing and able to do?
2. Decide what your goals are. What changes do you want to make? Choose one goal to work on first.3. Decide what steps will help you reach your goal.
4. Pick one step to try this week.
If you have diabetes and want to learn more about managing it, NDSU Extension Services along with UND Center for Family Medicine and Custer Health are offering the Dining with Diabetes series in 16 counties across the state starting November 8. Counties offering this great educational opportunity include: Grant, Logan, Stutsman, Ransom, Grand Forks, LaMoure, McKenzie, Dunn, Williams, Burleigh, Burke, Cass, Stark, Billings, Mountrail and Morton. For more information about the Dining with Diabetes series, contact Megan Myrdal, NDSU Extension Service, at 701.221.6865.
More information about preventing type 2 diabetes can be found by visiting www.YourDiabetesInfo.org or by calling 1.888.693.NDEP (6337).