MONROE, La. (KNOE) – November is National Diabetes Month, and Nutritionist Jen Avis joined Good Morning ArkLaMiss to offer some tips.
Avis says 38 million Americans have diabetes, 8.7 million Americans have diabetes and don’t know it and 98 million Americans have prediabetes.
Every year, 20,800 adults in Louisiana are diagnosed with diabetes, with 486,600 adults diagnosed across the state.
Avis says treating diabetes is important, because it drives several other diseases, such as:
Heart diseaseKidney diseaseCancerBlindnessVascular disease
People can be prediabetic for 8 to 10 years. Prediabetics have fasting blood glucose levels of 100 – 110 mg/dl and hypoglycemia.
This is also when vascular disease can progress, and causes individuals to be more prone to cancer.
To prevent the onset of diabetes:
Lose 5-10% of starting weightMove moreStop drinking sugary beverages and juicesDon’t try to eat perfect, find a diet you can live with
When reading labels, Avis says to look at the portion listed – don’t focus on the percentages.
Pay attention to carbohydrates too, all carbohydrates turn into sugar, except fiber.
Avis says it is also important to not only focus on sugar.
Example:
6-ounce sweet potato
30 grams carbohydrates15 grams sugar
6-ounce baked potato
30 grams carbohydrates2 grams sugar
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