Diabetes Prevention for You and Your Family

1. Diabetes Prevention for You andYourFamily Wellness for Women and Their Families Sweet Success

2. Stay Healthy These are things all people have to do to stay healthy: • Avoid smoking • Get regular exercise • Eat a balanced diet • Weight management Sweet Success

3. Measurement of Good Health • Blood pressure of 130/80 or lower • Total cholesterol below 200 • Hemoglobin A1c below 6.5% • Feeling well and being active • A waistline below 35 inches Sweet Success

4. Questions to Ponder To reach these measures of good health, people usually have to make changes in their daily lives. They often ponder the following questions: • What are therisksif I don’t change? • Do I really have to change? • What are thecostsand what are thebenefits? • What willmy friendsand family say? Sweet Success

5. Previous Risk May add to Future Risk Sweet Success

6. Future Risk • If you had gestational diabetes or a family member has diabetes, you are at risk of developing diabetesunlessyou make changes in eating and exercise Sweet Success

7. Future Risk • Most American do not eat well • Do not exercise enough • Weigh too much • And therefore are at increased risk of diabetes! Sweet Success

8. Cost versus Benefit • There may be costs involved as you buy wholesome foods or walking shoes. • Costs tend to be out-weighed by the benefits of saving healthcare costs later for diabetes care. Sweet Success

9. How Family and Friends Are Affected • Sometimes they may be upset when your changes affect them in ways such as not buying sweets or going for a walk instead of watching TV • Eventually they come to accept the needed changes and feel better too. Sweet Success

10. Basic Skills to Support Your Ways To Improve Your Health • Communication • Assertiveness • Problem solving • Time Management Sweet Success

11. Communication • Listen to family and friends • Talk things out Sweet Success

12. Assertiveness • Speak up for your goals • Be understanding of the other person’s frustration Sweet Success

13. Problem Solving • If you don’t feel safe walking alone, find a friend to walk with you Sweet Success

14. Time Management • First things first! • Your health and your family’s health are top priorities! Sweet Success

15. Exercise • Good things come from exercise: • Exercise for stress control • Exercise for your soul • Exercise for your self-image Sweet Success

16. Exercise Choices • Choose an exercise that you enjoy and that fits your personality Sweet Success

17. Getting Started with Exercise • Make it as enjoyable as you can • Doing a little is better than doing nothing • Consider lessons or joining a group • Exercise daily to get used to it • Start slowly Sweet Success

18. A Allow time for your health needs B Begin now C Choose wisely D Draw a deep breath and let go Skills from A to Z to help you persevere! Sweet Success

19. E Eat in healthy ways F Focus on your new health plan G Give and receive H Humor, use it Skills from A to Z to help you persevere! Sweet Success

20. I Imagine a happy future J Join good people K Know your strengths L Look for alternatives Skills from A to Z to help you persevere! Sweet Success

21. M Motive N Nurture yourself O One step at a time P Practice patience Skills from A to Z to help you persevere! Sweet Success

22. Q Quality time R Relax S Smile T Time management Skills from A to Z to help you persevere! Sweet Success

23. U Use your talents V Volunteer W Walk X Exercise Skills from A to Z to help you persevere! Sweet Success

24. Y Yearly check up for diabetes and health Z Zest for life Skills from A to Z to help you persevere! Sweet Success