Education To Cure Ignorance Of Diabetes

The Financial Times Health section recently did a spread on the increasing numbers of persons worldwide who have Type 1and Type 2 diabetes.  The figures are appalling.  "One in six white children and one in two children of color born in 2000 will have diabetes in their lifetime.  An estimated 26 million Americans have diabetes according to the CDC, while 79 million adults have pre-diatetes, a condition tht raises the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke."  In general, diabetics are either ignorant or ignore the warning telltale symptoms and signs of the disease.  A study in India revealed that 85% of participants at high risk of the disease had not had blood sugar screenings and 55% did no exercise.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Here are some tell tale signs of diabetes:  excess hunger and thirst, frequent urination and a 'sweet' scent from the mouth.  Complications of diabetes include heart and kidney dysfunction, vision impairment and difficulty walking.  Ulcerated sores that will not heal and black outs are other tell tale signs there is something amiss.  Oh yes....let's not forget diabetic comas.  Don't be ignorant!  Have a yearly physical that includes blood sugar screening.  Ignorance will not save you from the debilitating effects of diabetes.

An Aspirin a Day Keeps the Cancer Away

The Financial Times reported just a few days ago that taking an aspirin a day can cut your risk of dying from cancer by 25%.
The British medical journal, The Lancet, showed a drop in long term mortality from all kinds of cancer among patients who took small doses daily for five years.  It is thought that aspirin can help to prevent cancer by enhancing the ability of celss to repair damage to DNA.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  this doesn't mean that all adults should run out tomorrow and buy bottles of aspirin, but consult with your primary care physician first and discuss the benefits of a daily dose of aspirin.