Daina Duerr knows that healthy eating and exercise can help prevent and control Type 2 Diabetes. Working alongside Registered Nurse Cindy Michaels, Education Coordinator at Burnett Medical Center, she has seen the positive effects of diet and exercise.

There are three stages of diabetes.

The first, Borderline Type 2 diabetes, is not actually diabetes, but is a warning that action should be taken to prevent the disease from developing. “This is a good time to look at your diet and activity,” explained Michaels.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. The body does not produce enough insulin or does not properly use the insulin your body makes.

Insulin helps the body’s cells take in sugar from the blood stream. High levels of sugar buildup in the blood stream can lead to serious health problems.

Type 1 diabetes results when the pancreas is producing little or no insulin and insulin must be introduced into the body from outside on a daily basis.

Many times Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise. “It is a progressive disease so the patient may have to go to either an oral medication or an insulin regimen later,” explained Michaels.

When a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, or potential diabetes, Duerr becomes a critical part of the treatment. “First I take a survey of what they eat and what their goals are, how many calories and what types of food they consume,” she explained.

Based on that information Duerr can determine the amount of carbohydrate intake the patient has been getting and what the real carbohydrate needs the patient has. “Once we determine the choices of carbohydrates they can have a day, then we can set up the correct routine of eating,” she explained.

Weight loss is normally a part of the adjustment in the diabetes patient’s routine. “We drop the calories at the same time we adjust the carbohydrates in their diet,” said Duerr.

Exercise five times a week, is the other key ingredient in the prevention the disease progressing. “I am a huge advocate of activities and I try and set them up with the Grantsburg Fitness Center,” said Duerr.

“If they can’t do that I try to get them out walking,” she added. “It is not necessary to do the exercise all at once, so you can take five minutes anytime just to get your heart rate up.”

Carbohydrates are the most critical foods in controlling the blood sugar level in the body. Carbohydrates are one of three main energy sources in food, along with protein and fat.

With the right balance of carbohydrates and insulin, the blood sugar level will normally stay within the target range. “Even protein helps as it can extend the life of the carbohydrates,” explained Duerr.

The key, according to Duerr, is a plan for what carbohydrates to consume and when to consume them. Meeting with Duerr will allow a diabetic patient or even a potential diabetic patient to develop that plan.

Diabetes is a progressive disease so the symptoms appear gradually. According to Duerr and Michaels, the best way for early detection of diabetes is an annual physical.

Symptoms of Diabetes include constant thirst, frequent infections, dry itchy skin, numb or tingling hands or feet, slow healing wounds, tiredness, blurred vision, rapid weight loss, extreme hunger and/or lack of energy

It is recommended that you see your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms.