Diabetes Alert Day - March 23, 2021

 What is Diabetes Alert Day?

The American Diabetes Alert Day is recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and occurs annually on the fourth Tuesday of March. This day serves as the annual ‘wake-up call’ to Americans to educate themselves on the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes. This year, American Diabetes Alert Day will take place on Tuesday, March 23rd.

Why is Diabetes Alert Day important?

Diabetes Alert Day serves as a ‘wake-up call’ to Americans to become aware of their risk factors, speak with their healthcare providers, and begin taking necessary steps to take control of their health. It is estimated 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes. Of these over 34 million reported cases, 90–95% are type 2.¹ 

Diabetes can go unnoticed due to a lack of early detection. Very often people have prediabetes and do not know. Prediabetes, a condition where blood glucose levels are elevated, but not in the range of diabetes, impacts 88 million people over the age of 18.² It is estimated that 84% of those 88 million people with prediabetes are unaware that they have it.² Common factors that put you at a higher risk for prediabetes and eventually developing type 2 diabetes include family genetics, being over the age of 45, being overweight or having obesity, and lack of physical activity.³ Diabetes Alert Day is a reminder for adults across the United States to prioritize their health. 

Why should you care?

It is important to understand the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes early on. Diabetes is such a prevalent disease within the United States and is continuing to become increasingly more common in other parts of the developing world. Acting sooner to detect and prevent this devastating disease can save the lives of family and friends. 

How can N4L custom meal plans and nutrition counseling services help in diabetes prevention and care?

The custom meal plans designed at N4L provide balanced, ready-to-eat, pre-portioned servings that meet your caloric and macronutrient needs. Additionally, N4L offers personalized dietetic counseling services with our lifestyle programs. The N4L Dietitians can provide specific techniques and nutrition recommendations to help lower your risk or complications of type 2 diabetes. 

How do N4L meals align with the ADA standards for meals?

N4L meals are fresh, convenient, and eliminate uncertainty. All N4L nutrition panels can be found online. The “total carbohydrates” listed includes sugars, starches, and all the fiber found in a food.² N4L meals are designed to meet ADA recommendations for carbohydrates by providing between 50-65g of complex carbohydrates at each meal. Eating a consistent amount of complex carbohydrates helps stabilize blood glucose levels by not causing major spikes or dips in insulin production.¹

Another way N4L meals uphold the ADA standards is by prioritizing fiber. Fiber helps slow the release of sugars into the bloodstream because fiber containing foods takes longer for the body to break down into its component parts.² Each day of N4L meals provides at least 25 grams of fiber. 

What actions can you take today?

The ADA offers a survey of health information to help you understand your risk for the development of type 2 diabetes. The survey takes just minutes and can help you establish your risk by assessing your medical history, and lifestyle choices that can make you susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes. 

Making small, meaningful lifestyle changes can help you to decrease your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Taking action to modify diet and lifestyle to meet ADA recommendations can lessen the impact of those with high-risk factors.³ It has been shown that making personal dietary and lifestyle changes help with managing Type 2 diabetes.⁴,⁵

Diabetes Alert Day is an excellent opportunity to explore risk factors and preventative measures you can take against type 2 diabetes. This day serves as a reminder to prioritize your health and the health of your loved ones by speaking with your health care provider to make a plan to lower your risk for type 2 diabetes. Use Diabetes Alert Day as a day to reflect on lifestyle changes that you can make beginning today to lessen your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Beginning with diet and exercise is an easy place to start, and N4L is here to help! Custom meal plans from N4L are designed to support lifelong health goals, and can be a step towards implementing dietary change for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. 

References:

1. Type 2 diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html#:~:text=More%20than%2034%20million%20Americans,adults%20are%20also%20developing%20it. Accessed March 5 2021.

2. Diabetes alert day. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/diabetes-alert-day. Accessed February 21 2021.

3. Mayo Clinic Staff. Dietary fiber: essential for a healthy diet. Mayo Clinic website. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983#:~:text=In%20people%20with%20diabetes%2C%20fiber,of%20developing%20type%202%20diabetes. Accessed  February 23 2021.

4. Healthy Living. American Diabetes Association website. https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living. Accessed February 23 2021.

5. Tuomilehto J, Lindström J, Eriksson JG, et al. Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by changes in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. New England Journal of Medicine. 2001;344(18):1343-1350. doi:10.1056/NEJM200105033441801.

6. Diabetes alert day. American Diabetes Association website. https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living. Accessed March 9, 2021.