diabetes podcast

Diabetes can have a significant impact on a person's physical, mental, and economic well-being. In Connecticut, it is a costly disease, with over $3 billion spent in 2017 on associated costs. It is also one of the leading causes of death in the state, with over 275,000 cases of adult diabetes and 900,000 pre-diabetics. Complications can include eye problems, gum disease, and nerve damage in the feet. One person's experience resulted in amputations and wheelchair-bound. However, there are steps to slow the progression of complications, such as wearing compression socks, controlling blood pressure, making healthy food choices, being active, and quitting smoking. Visit cttakescontrol.com, cdc.gov, ct.gov.cph, and diabetes.org for more information. Hi, and welcome to Connecticut Takes Control, the podcast where we discuss the physical, mental, and economical toll diabetes can inflict on a person and ways you can fight back to regain control over your health and wellness. I am your host, Megan, and on today's episode, I will be sharing some eye-opening facts about diabetes along with a few simple yet effective steps you can take to reclaim your health. For any listeners that are unsure what diabetes is, let me first share a simple definition. Diabetes develops because the body is unable to produce or produces ineffective insulin, which is needed to lower the sugar in your blood. So why should you be concerned about this disease? Here are some facts provided by the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes is expensive. In 2017, the state spent over $3 billion on direct and indirect costs associated with diabetes. Diabetes is one of the 10 leading causes of death in Connecticut. The state has over 275,000 cases of adult diabetes, and there are over 900,000 pre-diabetics. That's 33% of the adult population. Every year, over 21,000 adults are newly diagnosed. Because of this health crisis, I want to point out a few diabetic-related health complications that some of you may be unaware of. Eye problems. Yes, diabetes can affect your vision. It's called diabetic retinopathy, and it can lead to blindness. Gum disease. I know you're thinking, how? Well, let me tell you. Diabetes can cause an increase in the amount of sugar in your saliva. This causes bacteria to grow and plaque buildup, leading to diseased gums and weakened bones that hold teeth into place. The last complication I want to mention today is problems with your feet. Nerve damage. You may have heard the term neuropathy before. Well, diabetic neuropathy is a pretty serious complication, and I'd like to share a story that will hopefully leave a lasting impression with you. I have a friend who is diabetic. One of the complications she endured is nerve damage in her feet. Her feet were always cold. They either felt numb or like they had pins and needles in them. Her circulation was poor, and her toes always looked purple. And even the smallest cut or scrape would take months to heal. So how did she battle this? The truth is, she didn't. She had to have a few toes amputated, and eventually lost both legs because of the disease. And now she is wheelchair-bound. This type of complication is devastating and happens all too often. But there are ways to slow the progression of neuropathy and these other complications and improve your overall health. Before I go, I want to leave you with a few steps that can really help battle these, as well as other diabetic complications. Wear compression socks. They really do help with circulation. Keep your blood pressure under control and have it checked often. Make healthy food choices. Limit portion sizes and include a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your meals. Be active every day. It lowers your blood sugar, keeps your heart healthy, and helps to control your weight. Walking is a great way to start. And if you smoke, stop. Not only is smoking bad for your lungs and heart, it affects your circulation, especially in your feet. Well, that's all I have time for today. I hope you found the information shared helpful, and thank you for listening. To learn more or to submit questions, visit our website at cttakescontrol.com. You can also visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov, the Connecticut Department of Public Health at ct.gov.cph, and the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org. Again, thank you for listening to CT Takes Control, and please tune in next week to hear our latest episodes. And remember, if you want to take back control of your health, you must continue to battle diabetes.