November is Diabetes Month

Diabetes is an epidemic in our society. It's a difficult condition to live with. It upsets the chemical balance in your blood and can lead to nerve damage, eye damage, and heart disease.

The CDC estimates that 24 million Americans are living with diabetes. Of those, nearly a quarter don't know about their condition. That's not good. By knowing if you have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes, you can begin taking steps to prevent or control the condition.

That can mean a longer life lived in better health.

If you're over fifty, in honor of American Diabetes month, make sure that your doctor tests for diabetes at your next appointment. If it's been more than a year since your last doctor's visit, make your appointment today. In fact, do it right now, so that you don't forget… then come back for some great tips on controlling diabetes.


If you do have diabetes, it's not the end of the world. If you make the right choices concerning the foods you eat and your diet, you can live a long healthy life free of diabetic complications. So here's what you do:
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Begin testing your blood sugar regularly.
• Avoid empty carbohydrates like white flour and white sugar. Instead choose nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
• Eat more lean protein.
• Choose healthy fats like olive oil, nut oils, and flaxseed oil (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids)
• Get more active. I've found the best way to do this is to join a class that you like.
• Start doing some resistance training… working your muscles can help balance your blood sugar and insulin levels.
• Reduce your stress.
• Visit your eye doctor annually.

That may sound like a lot, but really it comes to making smart choices about the foods you eat and the activities you do. Even if you don't have diabetes, making these changes now can prevent the disease in the future and make you healthier and more energetic almost immediately.

So start making smart choices today!

Stay well,
Danny Wallace