Changing Diabetes

Today I was reading through my new Forbes magazine and came across an article called Conquering the Diabetes Epidemic. This article covers how drastic it is to get diabetes under control. Diabetes is a disease that can be avoided with proper health for most.

The article explains the high expense of health care for those with diabetes. An estimated $218 billion was spent in 2007 on diabetes medical care. According to the ADA, diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in the U.S.

This article has some great information and a link to a new program to help with the epidemic. The National Changing Diabetes Program www.natioanldiabetesgoal.com

The article explains the high expense of health care for those with diabetes. An estimated $218 billion was spent in 2007 on diabetes medical care. According to the ADA, diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in the U.S.

Key Things to Check to Control Diabetes

Here are some key areas that need checked to help control diabetes. Talk to your doctor and make sure you are getting complete checkups.

A1C
This blood test measures blood sugar control over the past 90 days. The closer your A1C is to that of people who do not have diabetes, the less chance you have of damage occurring to your heart, eyes , kidneys and blood vessels. This should be tested 4 times a year and the goal is to be less than 7 on the A1c scale.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke or kidney failure. Both the AHA and ADA recommend blood pressures less than 130/80. Check your blood pressure often and check with your doctor if it is higher than these numbers.
Foot Inspection
You should check your feet daily for redness, swelling, cracks or calluses. These signs could be warning signs to complications due to having diabetes. In addition, people with diabetes should have there feet inspected by a health care provider every year.
Dilated Retinal (eye) examination
People with diabetes should have a dilated retinal examination every year. Early detection and treatment of changes in your eye can help prevent blindness.
Fasting Lipid Profile
High levels of lipids (fat) in the blood can lead to heart problems. people with diabetes are at a higher risk for heart related problems and strokes. Lipid profile test should be done once a year. If diet and exercise can not control high fat in blood, medications may be needed.
Urinary Protein/Micro albumin
Measuring the urinary protein will you and your doctor information about the health of your kidneys and blood vessels. This should be done once a year.

These are measure and checks to see if your diabetes is being controlled and your body is working properly. Watching these areas of your health can reduce many of the complications that come from diabetes.

New Year Resolution

Well the first month of the new year has just passed and I am sure you have set some New Year resolutions. The most common goal that is set is losing weight or improving health. This show how out of control our eating habits really are. Diabetes is also a sign of uncontrolled eating habits.
My goal was not to change my eating habits because I have spent the last year learning how to do this. I do need to be more consistent with my exercise. But my goal was to create a more harmonic life. I began this journey by reading a great book by James Ray.

Get your copy today and start a more harmonic life

I first read the science of success and enjoyed it very much. But when Harmonic Wealth came out I read it several times. I did the course worksheets that came with the book. If you have ever heard James Ray speak, he always talks about how balance is bogus. After reading the book I totally agree. We can never find balance in our hectic lives but we can find harmony. Think about the circus clown spinning the plates on a stick. He can keep five going but he can not just balance five on individual sticks. You have to continually keep addressing the five key areas in your lives. Stop trying to balance them, step up and deal with them.

You might wonder why I put this in my diabetic blog. Because if you can't control your life you will never control your diabetes. Poor eating habits, lack of exercise and general overall health are key signs that you may have your life out whack.

Here is a quote from the book.
Thought Proceeds Actions
"If you don't clean up your thoughts, you will never change your actions.To understand why, try to have a thought without an image. Think about your neighbor without visualizing him or her. Think about your car without seeing it in your garage or drive way. Think about wanting to feel healthier without at least a fleeting image of what you would look like. Can you do it? It's not possible".

Diabetic control is a mindset. Eating proper foods, exercising and being consistent with nutrients and medication is a mindset. Our overall life is a mindset. Learn how you can create a more harmonic life and you may find it will help with your diabetic control.