Family Awareness and Monitoring Diabetes Risk are Important

By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant

Diabetes is a chronic illness, and so far there is not cure for it.  But with careful monitoring, a person with diabetes can maintain good health and live a full and productive life.

While there is still much that remains unknown about diabetes, one thing that is known is that diabetes has a genetic component.  That is, blood relatives of people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes have higher-than average risk of developing the same type of diabetes as their family member.  People with a family history of Type 2 diabetes are also at risk for prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose is higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.  Prediabetes is considered a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and also for cardiovascular disease.

Women with a history of Type 2 diabetes in the family are at risk for gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy (usually between the 24^th and 28^th week.)  Additionally, women with a history of gestational diabetes are at increased risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes and children whose mothers had gestational diabetes while pregnant with them are at increased risk for obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

While you cannot change your family history knowing your family history, knowing that you have a family history of diabetes allows you to be proactive about monitoring your health and, if there’s Type2 diabetes or gestational diabetes in your family, lowering your risk.

During the November 9 session of “Control Diabetes for Life” we invite you to learn how important it is to share your family history of diabetes with your family members and medical team.  The program will help you learn how to protect your family members and what information to share with your medical team.  During the program you will also learn now making healthful eating and staying active as a family a high priority will help in prolonging the development of diabetes.  Healthy eating and staying active benefits your entire family.    Feel better and stay healthy for years to come by exercising and lowering your blood glucose level.

The program “Control of Diabetes for Life” will be held on Monday November 9 from from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Tekamah Herman High School distance learning classroom.

“Control Diabetes for Life”, is a program to help participants learn to control diabetes and prolong the onset of complications. The program is a joint project, sponsored by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Franciscan Care Services of West Point and cooperating schools, and is offered free-of-charge.

Participants are asked to pre-register for “Control Your Diabetes for Life” by calling the Nebraska Extension office in Burt County at 402-374-2929. Please register by Friday November 6, so the proper number of handouts may be prepared. The Nebraska School Food Service Association has approved this session for two hours of continuing education credits for food service staff attending.

Control your diabetes for life! Start by attending the November 9 distance education program.