Page 10 November 2 014 By Tiffany Pankow, M.D. This fact might startle you: Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Diabetes causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. Approximately 95 percent of those with the disease have Type 2 diabetes. This disease: • Involves the inability of your body to use insulin properly – insulin resistance. • Can occur at any age, but it most often happens in middle-aged and older individuals. Overweight and inactive individuals are also more likely to develop it. If you have Type 2 diabetes, treat it, because it can lead to complications such as kidney disease, stroke, heart disease and diseases of the eye. See your physician for a fasting blood test that evaluates your glucose levels. Between 2009 and 2013, 37 percent of adults older than 20 had prediabetes, according to the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014. Prediabetes means your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not at a Type 2 diabetes level. Without intervention, prediabetes is likely to become Type 2 diabetes in 10 years or less. You should ask for help from your doctor to prevent that progression. The more items you check below, the higher your risk for Type 2 diabetes. You: • Are 45 or older. • Are overweight or obese. • Have a diabetic parent, brother or sister. • Have a family background that’s African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino or Pacific Islander American. • Had gestational diabetes. • Had a baby weighing more than nine pounds. • Have a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, or you’ve been told you have high blood pressure. • Have higher than normal cholesterol levels. • Are fairly inactive. • Had prediabetes on previous testing. • Have a history of cardiovascular disease. You can lower your risk with: • Healthy eating. • Attaining your ideal weight. • Not smoking. • Controlling high blood pressure. • Being physically active 30 minutes a day for five days a week. • Healthy cholesterol levels. Tiffany Pankow, M.D., is a primary care physician at Scottsdale Healthcare Primary Care Arcadia 101, 4840 E. Indian School Road, Suite 101, 480-882-7350. Know your risk for diabetes Email editor@arcadianews.com Tell Us Your Tell Us Your Tell Us Your transformation transformation transformation Stories! Stories! Stories!

tes CUSTOM DESIGN & MANUFACTURING • FINE JEWELRY & GEMS • JEWELRY & WATCH REPAIR • APPRAISALS 4402 East Camelback Road 602.840.1144 /SchmittJewelersArcadia 539 East Glendale Avenue 602.279.1300 /SchmittJewelers North Central Arcadia HAPPY THANKSGIVING from our family to yours! SCHMITT SIGNATURE Est. 1970