[IMG]http://simplefeed.consumerreports.org/rsrc/i/1/_/diabetes_alert_day_8_ways_to_live_longer__52097732 3/4.gif?f=3dcb3160-01dc-11dc-32a2-0019bbc55f7f&s=AewyNia7NTvDvhaDemju5DEsbnVsbCwwLDA *[/IMG] Diabetes Alert Day: 8 ways to live longer
Twenty million Americans (7 percent of the U.S. population) have diabetes, and it?s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. But early detection and treatment can prevent or delay complications association with the disease. If you you?re living with diabetes or have a risk of diabetes, here are 8 ways to live a longer, healthier life.
Know your*odds. Having a risk factor for diabetes doesn't mean you will get the disease for sure. It just means you are more likely to get diabetes than someone who doesn't have that risk factor. Common risk factors for diabetes are having a relative with diabetes, being obese, and lack of exercise. Here are some others.
Get screened. An estimated 40 percent of adults with diabetes don't know they have it. That's 4 in 10 people with the disease who are not getting treatment that could prolong their life and protect them from many serious health problems, such as blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart disease, and stroke. It's important to diagnose diabetes quickly so that you can start treatment and stay as healthy as possible.

Keep tabs on your sugar. If you use insulin, your doctor may suggest you check your blood glucose (sugar) regularly, to see if it's in the right range. Regular checks may also tell you if your blood glucose is dropping too low (hypoglycemia) or climbing too high (hyperglycemia). Both of these can be dangerous. You can test your own blood glucose level regularly using a simple kit.






Watch what you eat. Eating healthy and staying active can help keep your blood glucose level near normal and your weight in the right range for your height. Doctors suggest eating a healthy, low-fat diet. This means eating regular, well-balanced meals, and sticking to a certain number of calories each day.
Get*physical. Physical activity will help keep down the level of glucose in your blood. It will also help keep your weight down, and it can make you feel great. Be sure to talk with your doctor before starting or changing an exercise program. Most doctors advise their patients to do some kind of exercise every day. This doesn't need to be strenuous. Walking for 30 minutes each day might be all you need to do.
Spice it up. Some studies suggest that as little as a half-teaspoon of cinnamon a day for 40 days may help control type 2 diabetes, possibly by increasing cells' sensitivity to insulin. But don't go overboard, since too much may harm the liver.

Skip newer drugs. Studies show that the newest medicines like the thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, alpha glucosidase inhibitors, and the drug Januvia are not any more effective than those that have been around for decades, such as the sulfonylureas and metformin. In fact, three of the newer medicines?acarbose and miglitol (both alpha-glucosidase inhibitors) and nateglinide (a meglitinide)?actually decrease HbA1c less than some of the older drugs. Also, all diabetes drugs have the potential to cause adverse effects, both minor and serious. The newer drugs don't have a safety advantage.
Speak up. Do I have to stop eating sweet foods?*Will I have to start giving myself insulin injections?**If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, these questions and many others are likely on your mind. If you have concerns about your diabetes, don?t keep it to yourself?talk to your doctor. Here?s a list of questions you may want to ask.
See our Treatment Ratings*(subscribers only)*for diabetes, and learn more about lower-cost drugs in our free Best Buy Drugs report.

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