More than 30 million Americans are living with diabetes.
“Life with diabetes is different, in that you have to be very purposeful with your diet and exercise,” said Dr. Barbara Bushman, professor of kinesiology at Missouri State University. “It’s not about being unable to eat what you want; it’s about portion control and balance.”
Diabetes is a disease related to the body’s inability to produce (type one) or properly use (type two) insulin, a substance that helps to regulate blood sugar, or glucose.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, eating healthy and exercising at least five times a week for 30 minutes can cut the risk for developing diabetes in half.
“My husband has type one diabetes, and he doesn’t want to hinder what I eat,” said Bushman. “I don’t mind modifications we have made in our diet. We are in this together. We are a team.”
In 2016, former President Barack Obama proclaimed November as Diabetes Awareness Month to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin.
To honor this, the Center for Disease Control and the American Diabetes Association have developed online tests to help determine if you are at risk for prediabetes.
“Finding where you’re at, in terms of risk, allows you to be in control of your health,” said Bushman.