November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country seek to bring attention to diabetes. National Diabetes Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on this critical public health issue and inspire people to take charge of their health.

This year, the focus is on preventing health problems related to diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood sugar, also called blood sugar, is too high. The latest statistics from the American Heart Association (January 2024) note: 9.7 million adults have undiagnosed diabetes and an additional 29.3 million have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes affects approximately 38 million Americans, including adults and youth. Diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart and is linked to certain types of cancer.

Nearly 115.9 million adults in the United States have prediabetes – and many don’t realize it.

The goal of today’s column is to provide a general overview with a primary focus on diabetes. A future column will provide a more detailed overview of prediabetes and highlight the importance of intervening before the development of type 2 diabetes.

Here are some tips to get you started.

Know your risk of developing diabetes

You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are overweight or obese; are aged 35 or over; have a family history of diabetes; are African American, Native American, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino or Pacific Islander; are not physically active; or have prediabetes.

Manage your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels

Preventing diabetes or managing it as soon as possible after diagnosis can help resolve diabetes-related health problems. You can start by managing the ABCs of your diabetes.

• A is the A1C test that healthcare professionals use to measure your average blood sugar. Some people with diabetes also use a device to track their blood sugar levels throughout the day and night. • B for blood pressure. • C for cholesterol.

Ask your healthcare team what your ABC goals should be.

Take small steps towards healthy habits

Lifestyle habits such as planning healthy meals, being physically active, getting enough sleep, and not smoking can help you prevent diabetes or manage the ABCs of diabetes. You don’t have to do everything at once. Start slowly and build healthier habits from there.

Take your medicine on time

Consider taking your medications even if you feel healthy. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have difficulty taking your medications on time or in the right dose.

Achieve or maintain a healthy weight

If you are overweight or obese, ask your primary care provider if a healthy diet, physical activity, or other weight loss treatments can help you manage your weight.

You may be able to prevent or delay diabetes by losing 5 to 7 percent of your starting weight. Use the Diabetes Risk Management Calculator (see reference at end of column) to determine how much weight you can lose to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Take care of your mental health

Managing diabetes can be difficult. If you’re feeling depressed, sad, or overwhelmed, learn healthy ways to manage stress. Consider talking to a mental health counselor or joining a support group.

Work with your healthcare team

Managing diabetes requires a team. Your health care team may include a primary care provider, diabetes specialist, dietitian, or certified diabetes educator. Ask your primary care provider if you should talk with other healthcare professionals about preventing or managing diabetes.

Diabetes medications, devices, and office visits can be expensive. A social worker or member of your health care team may be able to help you find community resources or financial assistance for diabetes care. Thanks to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for much of today’s content.

References/additional resource information

Check diabetes.org take the American Diabetes Association type 2 diabetes risk test.

A good resource for healthier lifestyle habits can be found at Living Healthy with Diabetes – NIDDK.

Mark Mahoney has been a registered dietitian/nutritionist for nearly 40 years and completed graduate studies in public health at Columbia University. He can be contacted at [email protected].

This article was originally published on Tallahassee Democrat: Managing Diabetes for Optimal Health Using the ABCs