Ithaca College

Did you know that diabetes affects nearly 30 million children and adults in the U.S. today—nearly 10 percent of the population? This means that every 19 seconds, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with diabetes.

So… what is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in your blood.

What can you do? Research shows that modest weight loss and regular physical activity can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by up to 58% in people with pre-diabetes. Modest weight loss means 5% to 7% of body weight, which is 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person. Getting at least 150 minutes each week of physical activity, such as brisk walking, also is important.

If you’re interested in making healthy changes or maintaining a healthy lifestyle, check out our website by clicking here for more information about our Diabetes Awareness Campaign.