Diabetes: Know the Symptoms. Reduce your Risk.
One in 10 Americans live with diabetes, but too many don’t know the risks or understand the symptoms.
Managing our health and our diets can be a challenge, especially if you’re a diabetic. One in 10 Americans live with diabetes. Whether you just received a diagnosis, or you’ve been living with diabetes for some time, managing the condition will make a difference in your overall well-being.
Feeling thirsty, frequent urination, itchy skin, blurry vision and breath that smells like acetone/nail polish remover are just some of the common symptoms of diabetes. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away. Early detection and treatment could save your life.
Risk Factors and Reducing Your Risk
There are two types of factors to consider for diabetes:
Factors you can impact (weight, inactivity, blood pressure, cholesterol)
Factors you can’t impact (age, gender, race).
Taking these factors into consideration, making lifestyle choices to manage or reduce your risk include:
- Eating a healthy diet of non-starchy vegetables, whole grain foods, lean meat and non-fat dairy products
- Getting daily exercise, at least 30 minutes, most days of the week
- Maintaining a body mass index (BMI) measurement between 18.5 – 24.9
- Monitoring blood glucose regularly
- Taking prescribed medications
- Not smoking
- Learning ways to manage stress
- Completing routine/preventive care with your healthcare provider
Resources to Help
Olympic Steel provides resources (some free) that can help you make healthier lifestyle choices to reduce your risk of diabetes.
- UHC’s Diabetes Toolkit includes tips and tools to help manage diabetes
- com outlines all of the resources available. Here are a two available at NO COST to you:
- Real Appeal® – FREE online weight loss program on Rally CoachTM
- HealthAdvocateSM – Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with resources available to all employees at no cost. Call 877.240.6863 to get started.
Questions?
Contact the HR Help Desk at 216.242.2886 (internal extension 19780) or
Corporate.HR@olysteel.com.
