- Approximately 21 million Americans currently live with diabetes.
- many do not realize there is a serious connection between type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The American Heart Association wants you to be in the KNOW. Using the following acronym, these are their recommendations:
Keep active and maintain a healthy body weight.
Even 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five days a week can help prevent diabetes, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, maintain a healthy body weight and minimize risk of cardiovascular disease.
Normalize your numbers.
Schedule regular visits with your doctor to help monitor your blood sugar and manage your diabetes. It has been shown that you can reduce cardiovascular disease by improving your blood sugar control and controlling other risk factors. Learn to keep track of your critical health numbers, including blood pressure, cholesterol, body weight and blood sugar.
Opt for a healthy lifestyle.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet and reduce intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars. Also, if you smoke, opt to quit – smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Work with your doctor.
People living with type 2 diabetes often need multiple approaches to treatment to control the disease and its associated risks. If you live with type 2 diabetes, it is important to talk with your doctor, describe your symptoms and be persistent until you find treatment options and lifestyle changes that work for you.
NUTRITION FLASHES: The following are based on research studies.
- Vitamin C-low levels have been linked with being overweight or obese-especially in women; may protect agains knee arthritic changes.
- Aging nutrition: tumeric ( spice) helps the immune systems clear Alzheimer's plaques. Daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplements boosts mental health in older adults; calorie restriction and glucose control increases longevity.
- Vitamin D: low levels are linked with increase blood pressure
- Osteoarthritis: glycine amino acid improves osteoarthritis symtoms.
- Cancer: watercress has benefits for cancer protection, vision and heart health; resveratrol supresses prostate cancer development; broccoli and cauliflower reduce aggressive prostate cancer risk.
