The Silent Disease
Each year the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) Auxiliary and Volunteer
Board promote a health education project. This year the health
education project is "Diabetes Awareness".
Could you be at risk for diabetes? Diabetes is known as a silent
disease; in other words, you can have it for years and not know
it. During this time, harm to the eyes, nerves, and kidneys may
have been going on for seven to ten years.
Risk factors for diabetes:
- Having high blood pressure (at or above 130/85)
- Having a family history of the disease
- Having diabetes during pregnancy or having a baby weighing
more than nine pounds at birth
Don't wait for signs!! Most people with diabetes do not notice
any symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact
your health care provider right away:
- Being very thirsty
- Urinating often
- Losing weight without really trying
What is diabetes? According to the American Diabetes Association,
diabetes means that your blood sugar is too high. Your blood always
has some sugar in it because the body needs sugar for energy to
keep you going. But too much sugar in the blood is not too good
for your health.
What does the American Diabetes Association recommend that we
do to lower the risk of diabetes?
- Keep your weight in control
- Stay active most days of the week
- Eat low fat meals that are high in fruits, vegetables, and
whole grain foods
November is American Diabetes Month. The goal of this program
is to raise awareness about serious and often preventable diabetes
complications, which include: blindness, amputations, and heart
disease.
The American Diabetes Association has a toll-free number: 1-800-diabetes.
The goal of the organization is to answer general questions on
diabetes in a prompt, accurate, and courteous manner. The American
Diabetes Association's web site, diabetes.org, is the largest
interactive diabetes site on the Internet. You may access it to
find information about living with the disease, register for special
events, make a donation, tour an interactive grocery store, read
journal abstracts, and much more information on the disease.
Jan Spalla, RN, of the Regional Health Services of Howard County
Hospital Education Department, has offered to do a program on
Diabetes for the Auxiliary's 2001-2002 program schedule.
