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November is American Diabetes Month, so you might be seeing some extra information about diabetes. Today, I want to try to distill some of my thoughts about it.

First, when we speak of diabetes, 85% of the time its Type 2 or adult diabetes. This is what effects millions of American’s. These patients typically don’t take insulin. Becuase this is the most common type of diabetes, my comments are geared toward them.

First, there has never been a better time to be diabetic. The new insulins are awesome: not just in terms of how well they control blood sugar, but also in terms of stability and ease of use devices. The oral medications are very good as well. Both metformin and pioglitazone are both generic and extrememly affordable.

Second. while the medications are good, I am afraid exericse and diet get lost in the mix. As American’s, we are programmed to think: “I am sick, so I take a pill and that’s it.” Type 2 diabetes is a disease most often due to lifestyle. God didn’t design you to eat excessive amounts of sugar and be a coach potatoe. We are desgined to be active.

Third, this is winnable: small amounts of change play huge dividends. It all starts will what you put in your mouth. Consider: consuming an extra 100 cal/day results in a 10 pound per year weight gain. But the opposite is also true: consuming 100 cal/day less than you need results in a 10 pound per year weight loss. That’s doable!

Also, small amounts of weight loss helps with blood sugar. Even if you are considerably overweight, studies show losing 10% of your wieght results in a large drop in blood sugar.

Finally, be active. I will go to my grave as a walker. It is the best way: it’s basically free, you can do it in a number of places, and we can do it basically year round in the south. Here is the catch: you got to do it for 30 minutes at a time, and you got to get a little sweaty. If you can’t do 30 minutes, go as far as you can and add 5 minutes every week or two.

We provide a number of services for diabetics: prescriptions, diabetic shows, wellness screening, immunizations. Let us help!

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