November is National Diabetes Awareness month. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death (fifth leading cause of death by disease) in America. According to the American Diabetes Association Diabetes affects over 20 million Americans, thats 7% of the population! Another 41 million Americans have pre-diabetes. That means out of every 5 people at least one of them has either diabetes or pre-diabetes. Chances are this includes you are someone you know. Every day approximately 2,200 people are diagnosed with diabetes, and the statistics getting worse each year.

Local Fitness consultant, Katrina McKenna of MetamorFitness, believes we can reverse this trend through education and awareness. Katrina offers 7 things that we all can do to reverse the trend and eliminate the need for Diabetes Awareness Month.

1. Talk to your doctor, if you have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes you must find out as much as possible from your doctor as soon as possible.

2. If you have diabetes, learn how to manage your blood sugar. This is vitally important to reduce the risk of serious complications, such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations.

3. If you do not have diabetes, find out if you are at-risk. Find out how you can reduce your risk factors, to prevent or postpone a diagnosis.

4. Donate to the American Diabetes Association, directly or sponsor someone in the Diabetes Walk or the Tour de Cure. You can participate or volunteer for one of these events. Find out more from the American Diabetes Association at http://www.diabetes.org

5. Maintain or obtain a healthy weight. If you have diabetes, losing weight will improve your blood sugar control, and if you are risk, it reduces your likelihood of becoming diabetic.

6. Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet will also help keep your blood sugar stable and helps you maintain a healthy weight. Moderating calories helps maintain or lose weight, and controlling the amount of carbohydrates and when you eat them helps control your blood sugar.

7. Exercise regularly. Exercise is very important in controlling blood sugar and even preventing diabetes. Moderate exercise most days of the week improves insulin resistance and assists in weight-loss or maintenance. Exercise is vital tool for a long, healthy life whether you have diabetes or not.