The American Diabetes Association (ADA) observed Diabetes Alert Day on Tuesday March 23. Why is raising diabetes awareness important? It is a ‘silent killer’ that puts over 34 million Americans at risk. Worldwide, the number of people with diabetes is projected to rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030.
Diabetes Increases Risk for Other Serious Diseases
Diabetes is the primary cause of many serious health conditions. Sadly, most people don’t know this. An ADA survey revealed that 68% of people are unaware that diabetes is linked to heart disease. Adults with diabetes have a two- to three-fold increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Incredibly, about 25% of people with diabetes don’t even know they have it!
Why is Diabetes Awareness More Important Than Ever This Year?
First, as discussed in my blog last month, those with diabetes are more than twice as likely to have a severe COVID-19 infection and also die from the disease. In addition:
- Diabetes is on the increase. Currently, more than 10.5% of the US population is diabetic; those at risk or with “prediabetes” constitute 33% of the population.
- Diabetes creeps up on us. Our body sometimes shows no symptoms until you are at severe risk. So, being aware of the risk and getting evaluated regularly are extremely important.
- Diabetes can be prevented! Simple lifestyle measures outlined by the World Health Organization are effective in preventing/delaying the onset, including:
- Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight
- Being physically active – at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days
- Avoiding tobacco use – smoking increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD)
- Eating a healthy diet, which included avoiding sugar and saturated fats. But you can do even more by changing your dietary pattern to a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet)
Consuming a MedDiet can Reduce Diabetes Risk
A recent analysis of 60 human studies demonstrated that a healthy eating pattern like the MedDiet reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes. This may be due to the abundance of polyphenols in the MedDiet, particularly olive polyphenols.
Olivino contains 160 mg of olive polyphenols per 2-capsule serving, a level clinically documented to reduce blood glucose, a key factor in the prevention/management of diabetes. Olivino contains the fruit (not leaves) of Coratina olives from S. Italy. Premier harvesting practices ensure the highest levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants. Olivino may be another dietary tool to help you in your fight against diabetes!
Prevention is the Best Strategy
Diabetes is a killer. The best option is to prevent it by what and how you eat. Olivino may be one more dietary tool to help you do that.