is the body’s inability to produce or effectively use insulin and is a
major cause of health cocerns such as heart disease, kidney disease,
blindness, sexual dysfunction and periodontal disease. More than 200
people in the United States and more than three in South Carolina die
each day from diabetes. S.C. is tied with Mississippi for the highest
rates of diabetes in African-Americans in the nation.
is Diabetes Awareness Month, and the Racial and Ethnic Approach to
Community Health (REACH) program is committed to reducing disparities
for African-Americans, who have a higher risk of developing the
disease, in Charleston and Georgetown counties.
The focus of REACH is to educate the community, provide solutions to
help eliminate barriers, work with partners to develop policy changes
related to diabetes prevention, and control associated hypertension,
stroke and amputation risk factors in African-Americans.
Current REACH awareness campaigns include bus placards and Take Control
Sunday, which launched this month and will reach thousands of people in
Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type, can be prevented or delayed by the following:
- Engaging in at least 30 minutes of regular physical exercise on most days.
- Losing weight if overweight (about 10 pounds can decrease your risk).
- Eating a healthy diet
high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains, while avoiding fried
foods, fatty meats, salt and sugar (eating sugar does not cause
- Visiting your primary care provider regularly, and asking how you can live a healthier life and prevent diabetes.
To better manage diabetes:
- Eat a healthy diet of small portions and count the amount of carbohydrates you consume.
- Get at least 30
minutes of physical activity on most days. Ask your health care
provider if there are certain types of physical activity that you
should not do, start slowly and increase your activity a little bit
- Monitor your blood glucose or blood sugar.
- Take diabetes medication each day as prescribed by your health care provider.
- Keep your appointments with your health care provider.
- Remember to control
your diabetes ABCs—A1C or average glucose (7 percent or below), blood
pressure (less than 130/80), and cholesterol or blood fats (LDL
cholesterol less than 100) are the usual goals for a person with
diabetes. Ask your health care provider what numbers are best for you.
REACH offers free
diabetes classes in largely African-American communities throughout
Charleston County to prevent, delay or manage diabetes. For more
information on bringing a class to your community or to enroll in a
class currently offered, contact the College of Nursing at 792-5872.
Friday, Nov. 27, 2009