Take Charge of Your Health During Diabetes Awareness Month
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. More than one in three Americans have prediabetes, and 90% don’t know it. The good news is that most cases of Type 2 diabetes are preventable — healthy lifestyle changes can help you avoid, control or even reverse the disease.
Keep your weight in check: Excess weight is the primary cause of Type 2 diabetes. If you’re overweight, losing just 7 to 10% of your current weight can cut your risk in half. Maintaining a healthy weight can also help prevent other health problems, including heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Be carb-smart: Limit sugar and refined carbohydrates like white bread, pasta and rice. Focus on higher fiber, whole-grain complex carbohydrates. They’re digested more slowly, which helps keep your blood sugar steady.
Stay active to stay healthy: Inactivity promotes Type 2 diabetes, so regular exercise is essential. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym to get the benefits — just walking briskly for a half hour every day can reduce your risk by up to 30%.
Eliminate tobacco use: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking can increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Tobacco treatment options, which include counseling services, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and other medications, have all been shown to be effective for smokers seeking extra support.
You can also take part in promoting a tobacco-free, healthy university campus by joining the annual Roadrunners Kick Butts Clean Up Walk on Nov. 13. The event helps remove tobacco litter from our campuses while encouraging exercise and environmental awareness, leading to a healthier university community and environment.
Check out the following BCBSTX educational resources:
- BCBSTX Fitness Program
- MDLIVE Virtual Visits (physical and behavioral health)
- Tobacco Cessation
- Condition Management
Additional Resources:
- AllOne Health Employee Assistance Program – Resources for healthier lifestyles and tobacco cessation planning (enter code “utsa” to create an account).
- On-Campus Counseling – Confidential and private counseling sessions for faculty and staff are available throughout the fall and spring semesters.
- Employee Success Center Training and Events flyer – Information about upcoming Wellness events such as Mindset Mondays, virtual stretch breaks, nutrition workshops, YMCA Health Chats and Airrosti clinics.
