watercress words by Dr Aletha

Diabetes was a significant health issue when I entered medical school in 1974, and still is. The cause of diabetes was not as well understood then and the treatment options were limited.

In 2024, we understand the disease better and have a greater range of medications that effectively control blood glucose. Unfortunately, the number of people with diabetes keeps increasing as well as the complication rate.

Be Aware of Diabetes

November is National Diabetes Month when communities nationwide call attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on taking action to prevent diabetes health problems.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that causes blood glucose, or blood sugar, to accumulate in the bloodstream at an elevated level. Glucose is your body’s main source of energy. Your body can make glucose, but glucose also comes from the food you eat.

Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy. If you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.

What makes Diabetes important?

Diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. Diabetes is also linked to some types of cancer. Taking steps to prevent or manage diabetes may lower your risk of developing diabetes health problems.

Common complications of diabetes include kidney disease, heart disease, and numbness in the feet due to nerve disease.

How common is Diabetes?

As of 2019, 37.3 million people—or 11.3% of the U.S. population—had diabetes.
More than 1 in 4 people over the age of 65 had diabetes.
Nearly 1 in 4 adults with diabetes didn’t know they had the disease.
About 90% to 95% of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes.
In 2019, 96 million adults—38% of U.S. adults—had prediabetes.

Diabetes around the World

Diabetes is a worldwide problem. According to the International Diabetes Federation 540 million people have diabetes.

10.5% of the world’s adult population (20-79 years) has diabetes, with almost half unaware that they are living with the condition.

The total number of people living with diabetes is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045.

Most of the world’s adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries.

How Can You Prevent Diabetes?

Taking charge of your health can help you prevent diabetes and complications for those who already have diabetes. While a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, it is critical for those at higher risk of diabetes and who already have been diagnosed.

Know your risk for developing diabetes.

You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are overweight; are age 35 or older; have a family history of diabetes; are African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino, or Pacific Islander; are not physically active; or have prediabetes.

Use this link from the American Diabetes Association to assess your risk.

Our 60-Second Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test

Know and manage your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

The first step in diabetes management is diagnosis. Appropriate blood tests can easily diagnose diabetes, and establish the type of diabetes.

Preventing diabetes or managing diabetes as soon as possible after diagnosis may help prevent diabetes health problems.

You can start by managing your diabetes ABCs.

A is for the A1C test that measures your average blood glucose levels.

B is for blood pressure.

C is for cholesterol.(also called lipids)

Ask your health care professional what your ABCs goals should be.

Cultivate Healthy Eating and Activity Habits.

Lifestyle habits such as planning healthy meals, being physically active, getting enough sleep, and not smoking may help you prevent diabetes or manage your diabetes ABCs. You don’t have to do it all at once. Start slow and build healthier habits from there.

Here are tips on moving from Contemplation to Action.

Use your medications correctly and regularly

Remember to take your medicines even if you feel healthy. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have trouble taking your medicines on time or at the correct dose. If you have trouble paying for medication, your doctor may suggest less costly alternatives.

Insulin, Medicines, & Other Diabetes Treatments

Aim for a Healthy weight

Reach or maintain a healthy weight. A healthy weight may not be perfect, or a specific BMI (body mass index).

If you have overweight or obesity, ask your primary care provider if healthy eating, physical activity, or other weight-loss treatments may help you manage your weight. Sometimes even a modest weight loss will improve glucose control.

people in a gym exercising — photo courtesy Amanda Mills, CDC.gov, Public Health Image Library

Guard your Mental Health

Managing diabetes can be hard. If you feel down, sad, or overwhelmed, learn about healthy ways to cope with stress. Consider talking to a mental health counselor or joining a support group.

This post was adapted from content provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

Other information and graphics were developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are in the public domain, and are freely available on their website.

Exploring the HEART of Health

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Dr. Aletha

This is a post about diabetes I wrote my first year of blogging. It is still relevant.

10 Silent Signs of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus type 2, often linked to obesity, complicates blood glucose control for overweight individuals. It contributes to serious complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and neuropathy. Early diagnosis and effective management through lifestyle changes and medication are crucial. Everyone should be aware of symptoms and high-risk factors for diabetes.

Keep reading

by Aletha Cress Oglesby, M.D. August 6, 2015November 11, 2025

Daylight Saving Time ends November 3

Some of us will be in new time zones. Maybe not completely new, but our time will change by one hour as Daylight Saving Time ends and we resume standard time on November 3.

That means sunsets will come even earlier than they have been, and there will be fewer daylight hours until the first day of winter, December 21. If you live south of the equator, you welcome more sunshine instead.

For most people, “falling back” is less disruptive to sleep than “springing forward.” To make the adjustment a little easier, you can adjust your sleep/wake schedule gradually in the mornings and/or evenings a week before the change.

Otherwise, when the time changes you can enjoy sleeping an extra hour (if you can) or waking up earlier than usual until your body adjusts

Health Insurance Enrollment for 2025

Many people have a chance to change their health insurance in November.

For Medicare recipients, October 15 through December 7 is open enrollment where we can change from regular Medicare to an Advantage Plan. Or, if you are already in an Advantage Plan, you can switch to a different one.

Medicare is available to anyone at age 65 and certain other people.

Medicare health plans provide

Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) benefits to people with Medicare. These plans are generally offered by private companies that contract with Medicare. They include

Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C), Medicare CostPlans,Demonstrations/Pilots, and Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs.

a Medicare Advantage plan offered by UnitedHealthcare

If you aren’t eligible for Medicare or an employer-sponsored insurance plan, you may get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, with open enrollment starting November 1. This program was established by the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare.

If you are covered by an employer-sponsored health plan, you may be required to sign up for next year’s coverage, especially if you want to change coverage options. Otherwise, you may automatically be enrolled into the same plan.

Whatever plan you choose, you should carefully evaluate your options, especially out-of-pocket costs. In a previous post, I reported on the problem of medical debt which often occurs due to unexpected expenses not covered by insurance.

A less expensive insurance plan could cost more if it requires higher deductibles and co-pays than you would with a plan with higher premiums. You should consider the cost of anticipated health care as you choose coverage while planning for unexpected medical expenses.

Photo by Edmond Dantu00e8s on Pexels.com

November 5-United States Election

The official day to vote is Tuesday, November 5, but millions of people have already voted. My husband and I voted on Halloween, a first for us.

But technically, we do not elect the President and Vice-President that day. Here is how it works.

Timeline of key presidential election dates

Nov. 5, 2024—Election Day
The voters in each state choose electors to serve in the Electoral College.
By Dec. 11, 2024—Electors appointed
The executive of each state signs the Certificate of Ascertainment to appoint the electors chosen in the general election.
Dec. 17, 2024—Electors vote
The electors in each state meet to select the president and vice president of the United States.
Jan. 6, 2025—Congress counts the vote
Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes.
Jan. 20, 2025—Inauguration Day
The president-elect is sworn in as president of the United States.

Source: The National Archives and Records Administration

Let’s all do our part to ensure a fair, safe, secure, and trustworthy election. Be careful what you share on social media; don’t believe everything others share.

Remember that elections involve people, and people make mistakes. A mistake is not cheating. Recognized mistakes should be acknowledged and corrected. Unsubstantiated accusations, threats, and violence are unacceptable. Cheating should be proven and guilty people held accountable.

Remember the people running elections in your community are your neighbors, and treat them as such. Consider volunteering yourself.

January 6, 2021 happened once, it doesn’t have to happen again.