November is National Diabetes Month

Every 19 seconds, someone in America is diagnosed with diabetes. Nearly 10 percent of our population with diabetes are children. This disease affects the whole family, especially when a child is diagnosed. I was in third grade the first time I remember learning about diabetes. I recall watching my teacher prick my friend’s finger to check her blood glucose levels. She had type 1 diabetes, and although we supported her, I never thought the disease would directly affect me. As I got older, diabetes grew closer to impacting my personal life, making me realize that it could affect my children.

When we were still dating, my husband told me that his mother developed gestational diabetes while pregnant with him. He weighed over 9 pounds when he was born which is common for women who have gestational diabetes. Having gestational diabetes puts both the mother and child at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which she eventually did.

It wasn’t until my adult years when my dad began to warn me about eating healthy, sharing that we have a family history of diabetes. Diabetes finally caught up to him, and he was diagnosed with type 2 in his 60s.

Diabetes came knocking on my door this year, but I’m trying not to answer! During a routine health exam, my blood work revealed that I had prediabetes. I met with my doctor who referred me to a nutritionist to show me ways to prevent it from progressing. They were surprised at first that someone with my weight and age could have it (although they are aware of various causes of diabetes and misconceptions). There are many myths surrounding these assumptions as you can see listed in National Diabetes Education Program.

The number on the scale for where my prediabetes stood was only one number above normal glucose levels, so they were not too alarmed. But as a parent, I am now committed to making greater efforts to prevent my kids from the disease.

Everyone Has a Role in Diabetes. What’s Yours?

The theme for this year’s National Diabetes Education Program (NEDP) is Diabetes Education and Support: Everyone has a role. What’s yours? As a parent, I think it is a fitting theme. Our role as parents in the fight against diabetes are to be proactive in teaching our kids about the disease and to be good examples for leading a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent your children from the disease:

Eat Well, America!

If your kids are like mine, being active is no problem since they love to move! It’s the food part that can get tricky. Eating well can be tough when you’re always on the go. To help your whole family eat well (which is more than just eating healthy and doesn’t mean sacrificing taste), this year’s theme for American Diabetes Month is Eat Well, America! The Association will help you eat well from everything to shopping to serving. They will be sharing nutritious recipes every week that you can read about it in their fact sheet.

Diabetes is Manageable

The disease may overwhelm you if you or your child have been diagnosed but remember that it is manageable. After my dad had received news that he is a diabetic, he and my mom took immediate steps that were effective in managing the disease. My mom made changes in her meal preparations, and they both became more active. He was overweight but his efforts to monitor his food intake, exercising daily plus his medication helped him lose a significant amount of weight. His lifestyle changes improved his overall health. Now, his glucose levels are usually on target.

Diabetes is Preventable

Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in America, but it is important to know that it is preventable. The doctor and nutritionist assured me that I had a high chance of preventing diabetes. Since finding out about prediabetes, I am focusing on taking better care of myself, something that many of us moms neglect to do when we are busy with raising a family!

I pay more attention to what I eat daily, limit my portions and record what I eat into the popular app, My Fitness Pal. Having a regular exercise routine is also key. I began walking when possible, (I now walk my son to school) and run a few times a week, encouraging my husband to run with me. My kids love that we spend more time outdoors, and we prepare meals as a family when possible to motivate the kids to eat a well-balanced diet.

Diabetes is an ever-growing problem that as a community, specifically, as parents, we can work together to fight. There will be special occasions when we eat unhealthy but making our kids aware of diabetes and showing them most days that we eat well and exercise will go a long way. Take care of yourself first and get tested to see if you are at risk.

For more information about National Diabetes Month, visit American Diabetes Association and National Diabetes Education Program.  What goals will you make this month to lead a healthier lifestyle for your family?

If you have a relative with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Nemours and TrialNet are inviting you to a free blood test on Wednesday, November 11th from 1 – 4:30 p.m. in the Nemours 10th floor auditorium (807 Children’s Way, 32207).  The test can detect an increased risk for developing T1D, up to 10 years before symptoms appear.  TrialNet is an international network of researchers exploring ways to prevent and delay the progression of T1D and screening is the first step needed for prevention.  Relatives of people with T1D are being screened because their chances of developing the disease are about 15 times greater than for those with no family history. The event is open to the public but registration is encouraged.  For more information or to register, contact Kaitlin Sikes, ARNP, at [email protected] or                 (904) 697-3988.