Friday, May 9, 2008

Managing Diabetes with Exercise and Nutrition


I spent last Saturday at the Long Beach Convention Center speaking to the American Diabetes Association. When I got there, I was greeted by a volunteer who said "Great, you are on the main stage!" That felt great! I spoke to the audience about finding your "fitness flavor" and how to overcome confidence issues when starting a new fitness program. Almost everyone can find some exercise they can do!


Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.


There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortun ately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease (American Diabetes Association website).


Regular exercise and proper nutrition are crucial to managing diabetes. Of course, all diabetic exercise and dietary modifications should be reviewed by a medical professional.


If your company or organization wants an entertaining presentation about exercise or fitness in general, contact me at jeffblair@jeffblairfitness.com. I specialize in helping people over 30 feel and look their best!

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