November is Diabetes Awareness Month. This year the American Diabetes Association has come up with the slogan We Stand Greater Than. What is this supposed to mean? But before we get to that, let us look at this chronic condition and how it impacts us all.
What is diabetes?
According to the CDC, “diabetes is a health condition in which your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it as well as it should. Most of the food you eat is broken into sugar or glucose which your cells use for energy. When the sugar in your bloodstream goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin, the hormone that lets the blood sugar into your cells to be used as energy.
More than 34 million people in America live with diabetes. COVID-19 accounted for 40% of deaths among people with diabetes. This is why it’s so important to take all necessary precaution if you have diabetes.
There are two types of diabetes:
Type 1- this type of diabetes affects people of all ages, race, shape and size and occurs when the body either does not produce insulin or does not produce enough.
Type 2 diabetes – this is the most common and occurs when the body does not make proper use of insulin.
Diabetes is a very debilitating disease for which there is no cure. Left untreated, diabetes can affect your organs, including your heart and kidney and can even lead to vision loss.
This is why the ADA slogan We Stand Greater Than is so relevant. A diagnosis of diabetes can fill you with fear, but this year, the ADA is encouraging you to stand greater than your fear. By making healthy lifestyle changes and incorporating more physical activity and healthy foods, you can manage this illness and live a happy and healthy life.
Watch the motivational video below then decide, do you know where you need to be? Are you ready to take that first step? Then fill in the form below to join the 15-day diabetes awareness challenge and let’s stand greater than.
