Awareness
October 6, 2011
I am going to take my day off from the gym to raise some awareness. First... some facts...
25.8 million children and adults in the United States—8.3% of the population—have diabetes
18.8 million people are diagnosed...
7.0 million people go undiagnosed...
79 million people have prediabetes
1.9 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010.
This data came from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. You can find these facts (and many more) at Diabetes.org (www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/)
I think one of the scariest statistics listed above is the "undiagnosed" category. How do you treat diabetes if you dont know you have it? How do you know how to adjust your diet, add exercise or take medication if you are unaware that you are already suffering from it. How do you take preventative measures if you are at risk if you dont know where you stand? Please please please if you have any prediabetes symptoms, or diabetes in your family, get tested, seek treatment and get healthy.
Today I attended a funeral for a wonderful man, taken far to young, at 55 years old. I have known this man for my whole life. He was wonderful, fun, happy and would give the shirt off his back for anyone (especially his family). My heart ached today as we gathered to say farewell and pray for him. No, diabetes is not the reason for his death, but it was one of the aliments that he suffered from. He is also not the first family member or friend who I have lost way to early in their life who suffered from diabetes. This disease is preventable, treatable and curable if it is caught and taken care of.
To prevent diabetes get regular screening. Type 2 diabetes can begin years before he actual diagnosis. Exercise, or simply take the stairs, park further away from the entrance of the grocery store, or if you are active, join a gym and push yourself. Watch your weight and take caution with your carbohydrate intake. These are 4 simple ways (taken from HERE) to start prevention and awareness.
Finally, if you would like to donate please do... (or do it on line)
American Diabetes Association
330 Congress St. 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
God Bless you Bobby, may you rest in peace.
On another note, after the funeral I was faced with my first big "challenge" with the paleo diet. I have pretty much been able to control my food, what I was ordering (if out) and what we are buying at the grocery store. I have been avoiding the company lunches by bringing my own and planning my "cheat" meal for a Friday or Saturday night. Here I was today, faced with a buffet of food that I had no idea what was under the covers.
This morning since I didnt have the gym I had some green tea on the way. I decided that I would have a Lara Bar before getting to the funeral parlor as I knew it would be hours before I ate again (for the record, the cashew cookie Lara Bar is my absolute favorite). By the time we got to the hotel after the service was over I was pretty hungry. I contemplated having a cup of coffee and just calling it a day waiting till I got to work to have the leftover shepards pie that I brought just in case I wanted to wait till I got to work to eat. I could see (and smell) the food and I knew that that plan wasnt going to work.
Friends and family arrived back at the table with chicken broccoli ziti, cheese tortellini in red sauce, rice, chicken, salad and rolls... hmm, whats a paleo girl to do. After getting the "well, what can you eat" question a few times I went up to the buffet. Filled my plate with mostly salad, sans dressing, as they only had italian and creamy italian out... some green beans (though they probably had butter on them) and a small piece of chicken, that I scraped the skin off of. I was pretty happy with my plate and reasonably full when I was done. I followed it up with a cup of coffee and I was golden. I am by no means trying to make people feel bad for eating "normal." I understand 100% that this is not the lifestyle for everyone, nor does it have to be. There is nothing wrong with eating everything that was on the buffet in moderation. I just really want to stick to the paleo lifestyle and challenge myself to stay committed 100% till I reach my goal.
Crisis averted and I was able to adjust to my situation. I did not cave. I was proud of myself.
FOOD:
7:30am: Green Tea
8:30am: Lara Bar
12:30pm: Salad, Chicken, Green Beans
1:00pm: Coffee
3:00pm: Green Tea
3:30pm: Pear
7:00pm: Three Eggs and Bacon
I am going to take my day off from the gym to raise some awareness. First... some facts...
25.8 million children and adults in the United States—8.3% of the population—have diabetes
18.8 million people are diagnosed...
7.0 million people go undiagnosed...
79 million people have prediabetes
1.9 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010.
This data came from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. You can find these facts (and many more) at Diabetes.org (www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/)
I think one of the scariest statistics listed above is the "undiagnosed" category. How do you treat diabetes if you dont know you have it? How do you know how to adjust your diet, add exercise or take medication if you are unaware that you are already suffering from it. How do you take preventative measures if you are at risk if you dont know where you stand? Please please please if you have any prediabetes symptoms, or diabetes in your family, get tested, seek treatment and get healthy.
Today I attended a funeral for a wonderful man, taken far to young, at 55 years old. I have known this man for my whole life. He was wonderful, fun, happy and would give the shirt off his back for anyone (especially his family). My heart ached today as we gathered to say farewell and pray for him. No, diabetes is not the reason for his death, but it was one of the aliments that he suffered from. He is also not the first family member or friend who I have lost way to early in their life who suffered from diabetes. This disease is preventable, treatable and curable if it is caught and taken care of.
To prevent diabetes get regular screening. Type 2 diabetes can begin years before he actual diagnosis. Exercise, or simply take the stairs, park further away from the entrance of the grocery store, or if you are active, join a gym and push yourself. Watch your weight and take caution with your carbohydrate intake. These are 4 simple ways (taken from HERE) to start prevention and awareness.
Finally, if you would like to donate please do... (or do it on line)
American Diabetes Association
330 Congress St. 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
God Bless you Bobby, may you rest in peace.
On another note, after the funeral I was faced with my first big "challenge" with the paleo diet. I have pretty much been able to control my food, what I was ordering (if out) and what we are buying at the grocery store. I have been avoiding the company lunches by bringing my own and planning my "cheat" meal for a Friday or Saturday night. Here I was today, faced with a buffet of food that I had no idea what was under the covers.
This morning since I didnt have the gym I had some green tea on the way. I decided that I would have a Lara Bar before getting to the funeral parlor as I knew it would be hours before I ate again (for the record, the cashew cookie Lara Bar is my absolute favorite). By the time we got to the hotel after the service was over I was pretty hungry. I contemplated having a cup of coffee and just calling it a day waiting till I got to work to have the leftover shepards pie that I brought just in case I wanted to wait till I got to work to eat. I could see (and smell) the food and I knew that that plan wasnt going to work.
Friends and family arrived back at the table with chicken broccoli ziti, cheese tortellini in red sauce, rice, chicken, salad and rolls... hmm, whats a paleo girl to do. After getting the "well, what can you eat" question a few times I went up to the buffet. Filled my plate with mostly salad, sans dressing, as they only had italian and creamy italian out... some green beans (though they probably had butter on them) and a small piece of chicken, that I scraped the skin off of. I was pretty happy with my plate and reasonably full when I was done. I followed it up with a cup of coffee and I was golden. I am by no means trying to make people feel bad for eating "normal." I understand 100% that this is not the lifestyle for everyone, nor does it have to be. There is nothing wrong with eating everything that was on the buffet in moderation. I just really want to stick to the paleo lifestyle and challenge myself to stay committed 100% till I reach my goal.
Crisis averted and I was able to adjust to my situation. I did not cave. I was proud of myself.
FOOD:
7:30am: Green Tea
8:30am: Lara Bar
12:30pm: Salad, Chicken, Green Beans
1:00pm: Coffee
3:00pm: Green Tea
3:30pm: Pear
7:00pm: Three Eggs and Bacon
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