FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES A Project by Johnson’s TaeKwonDo & Leadership Academy Students Renuka Dabli-The Creator/Presenter of “Fight Against Diabetes” River Sepinuck – Presenter and A.B. Combs student Willow Sepinuck-Presenter and A.B. Combs student

Statistics In the U. S. A million people have diabetes. 1.6 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older each year. 5.7 million people are undiagnosed (they have diabetes but they don’t even know it.).

What Is Diabetes? Diabetes is a condition in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.

To understand what happens in Diabetes, First you need to understand 3 things. ONE Glucose is the body’s main source of energy. It’s the main type of sugar in the blood.

TWO: Glucose comes from the foods we eat.

THREE: You need a hormone called insulin to get glucose into your body’s cells.

What is Insulin? Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the level of glucose, a simple sugar that provides energy, in the blood.

What is Type 1 Diabetes? The pancreas produces no insulin.

The cells do not respond correctly to the insulin. What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Famous People With Diabetes Billie jean king- tennis player Larry king -talk show host Nick Jonas- Jonas brothers Elvis Presley- famous singer Thomas Edison- scientist

Myths and facts about diabetes Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. Fact: No, it does not. diabetes is caused by genetics and/or lifestyle factors.

Myth: Diabetes is not that serious of a disease. Fact: Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. Myths and facts about diabetes (Continued)

Myth: If you are overweight or obese, you will eventually develop type 2 diabetes. Fact: Being overweight is a risk factor for developing this disease, but other risk factors such as family history, ethnicity and age also play a role. Myths and facts about diabetes (Continued)

Effects of diabetes Some serious effects from diabetes include vision problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, heart and circulation problems.

Symptoms Of Diabetes Frequent urination Unusual thirst Extreme hunger Unusual weight loss Extreme fatigue (In addition to the above, there can be other symptoms like frequent infections, numbness in hands/feet and blurred vision.)

Risk Factors For Diabetes Obesity Sedentary (non-active) lifestyle Unhealthy eating habits Genetics High blood pressure/cholesterol

How To Prevent Diabetes 1.Exercise is very important in preventing diabetes. At least 30 minutes or more is needed to stay healthy. 2.Diet- Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoiding trans fats is also helpful.

How To Prevent Diabetes (cont’d) 3. Visit your doctor yearly to make sure your blood sugars are in a normal range. A simple blood test can do it. 4. Eat smaller meals more frequently. Portion sizes are very important in managing and preventing diabetes.

How To Prevent Diabetes (cont’d) 5. Staying a healthy weight goes a long way towards maintaining normal blood sugar levels. 6.Be aware of your medical and family history. Try to lower your risk factors.

And finally, Spread the word Awareness and prevention are the keys to keeping the disease at bay. By educating others, you can be a champion in the fight against diabetes.