Not to mention all of the diabetic patients that I transport on a daily basis as an MET. But, ask yourselves this, what are you doing to prevent it for yourself? Body: I. The first step to preventing Type 2 Diabetes is staying fit. A. This includes controlling your weight. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, “being overweight increases the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes seven fold Losing only 7 to 10 percent of your current weight can cut those chances in half. 1. Well how do I control my weight, you ask?
How about fixing up your diet? Maybe instead of choosing the Italian bread at Subway, which is high in refined carbohydrates, which puts strain on your digestive organs, you whose the whole grain bread which is proven to decreases your chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes by 21%! 2. Another method to control your weight is avoiding sugary drinks such as soda’s and in some cases even juices and instead choosing water or tea. According to the Nurses’ Health Study, a single 12 oz sugary beverage per day can increase your risk of diabetes by 25%.
You may want to reconsider next time you crave a Pepsi or Coke. 3. Next, choose good fats instead of bad fats. Now, what I mean by that is stay away from trans fats. Instead, add unsaturated fats into your diet. Adding Hess fats into your diet can help fight off Type 2 Diabetes. Stay away from margarine’s, packaged baked goods, and most fried foods. Instead, choose vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, or fish. In fact, it is said that if you already have diabetes, eating fish can help protect against a heart attack or dying from heart disease. B. Another way to stay fit is not to smoke.
Smokers, you might as well add Type 2 Diabetes to the extensive list of health issues related to smoking. According to the America Medical Association, smoking increases your risk of Type 2 Diabetes by a whopping 50%. 1. Tobacco use increases our blood sugar levels to the point at which it becomes extremely difficult for your body to break down and store this sugar. This is called Insulin Resistance. It putt’s massive strain on your body. Transition: But perhaps staying fit isn’t the on lay thing you can do to help prevent Type 2 Diabetes. II.
The second step to preventing Type 2 Diabetes is to stay active. A. Working your muscles more often and forcing them to work harder increases the amount Of sugar being broken down and absorbed by your cells. In a Sense, you’re not only working out your muscles but, almost every internal organ as well. -By working out your internal organs, such as the kidney’s and the pancreas per say, you’re conditioning them to work more efficiently. 2. They become better able to accept and store the broken down sugar thus, decreasing the blood sugar levels within the body.
B. According to a study done by Harvard School of Public Health, every 2 hours you spend sitting and not moving, perhaps in front off TV or behind a screen, you increase your risk for Type 2 Diabetes by 20%! 1 . The lack of movement causes decreased metabolism of the sugars in your body which in turn causes increased blood sugar levels or hyperglycemia. Visual Aid Demo: Blood sugar is measured by a device called a Gloucester (Raise device). Many of you may have already seen or heard about this device.
All you do is press this power button, and wait for the strip to come out and you’ll hear a beep. Wait, until the device zero’s out, and now it is ready to go. All you do, is prick your finger and gently squeeze out the blood. All you need is a drop. Put the drop of blood on the strip and wait until the device presents a number. This number is your blood sugar level. A healthy adult’s blood sugar level is anywhere from 80-120 MGM before eating. In severe cases, a Type 2 diabetes patient’s blood sugar level can reach levels as high as MGM before eating.
