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Welcome to the April edition of Access Digest. This month we'll look at some warning signals -- risks that we should all be aware of. Whether you already have diabetes or are at risk for developing the disease, there is much you can do to prevent it or at least lessen its severity. Educating yourself is the key, whether you read brochures from your doctor, newsletters such as this one, or take an online quiz. All can serve to enlighten and remind you of your own personal risk factors and tell you what you can do to improve your healthy lifestyle. We think you'll find these articles of interest.

Our featured recipe of the month is Sante Fe Shrimp and our Lifestyle Tip is about drinking alcohol and its effect on your diabetes.

As always, when you see "Read More" at the end of an article, or something that is underlined, you can click on it to be linked to another Web site where you'll find more information. When you find a site that you may want to visit again in the future, you can bookmark it.

Each month we receive questions from our readers. We post some of the more frequent questions and answers for everyone to read. If you have questions or comments of your own, please email them to us at the end of this issue.

We hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter. Thank you for choosing Access Diabetic Supply as your choice for diabetic supplies.

Diabetes Risk Test

There are 20.8 million children and adults in the US with diabetes -- and nearly one-third of them (or 6.2 million people) do not know it!  Here's a test to determine if you are at risk for having or developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. If you are a member of one of these ethnic groups, you need to pay special attention to this test.

To find out if you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, click on this link, answer the questions as they apply to you, and then click the Calculate button to run the test and view your score.

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Did you know that diabetes and heart disease are linked? People with diabetes are at higher risk for a heart attack or a stroke. Their heart attacks tend to be more serious and can happen early in life. Both women and men are at risk. But you can help to lower your risk by keeping your ABCs of diabetes on target.

A is for A-1-C. Your A-1-C check tells you your average blood sugar for the past 2 to 3 months. It's the check "with a memory."

B is for blood pressure. Your blood pressure numbers tell you the force of your blood inside your blood vessels. When your pressure is high, your heart has to work harder.

C is for cholesterol. Your cholesterol numbers tell you about the amount of fat in your blood. Some kinds, like HDL cholesterol, help protect your heart. Others, like LDL cholesterol, can clog your blood vessels or lead to hardening of the arteries. 

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Some risks factors for developing diabetes vary depending on where you live. This is due to the environment as well as the genetic makeup of your family. In the United States, the lifetime risk of developing diabetes is estimated at 33% for males and 39% for females for people born in the year 2000. It has also been calculated that for those diagnosed before the age of 40, the average life expectancy is reduced by 12 years for men, and 19 years for women. The risk for developing diabetes increases in certain cases such as the following: 

Genetics - People with a close relative with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk. 

Ethnic background - The prevalence of diabetes in the Caucasian population of the US is about 7.2% while in the African American population, it increases to about 11%. In a well known group of Native Americans, the Pima Indians, the prevalence increases to almost 35%. 

Birth weight - There is a relationship between birth weight and developing diabetes, and it’s the opposite of what you’d intuitively think. The lower the birth weight the higher the risk of type 2 diabetes. 

Metabolic syndrome - People who have the metabolic syndrome are at especially high risk for developing diabetes. 

Obesity - Obesity is probably the most impressive risk factor. This is in part due to the fact that obesity increases the body’s resistance to insulin. Studies have shown that reversal of obesity through weight reduction improves insulin sensitivity and regulation of blood sugar. 

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April Lifestyle Tip: How to Stay Safe When Drinking

People with diabetes need to take precautions when having a drink or two. This includes having a well-balanced meal before drinking, and snacking while drinking. Check the alcohol level of what you're drinking, and be sure to account for added calories and carbohydrates in fruit juices, sodas, and other mixers. Don't exercise before drinking, because it lowers blood glucose levels, and drinking will reduce them even further. That includes dancing. The best precaution against alcohol-induced hypoglycemia is to bring along your blood glucose monitor and check your levels frequently.

Other risks are neuropathy, high triglyceride levels (over 200 mg/dl), chronic hypertension, and high blood pressure. Some diabetes medications and other drugs should not be taken with alcohol. There are other medical conditions that may contraindicate the use of alcohol, such as liver disease, peptic ulcer, gastritis, and pancreatitis. Check with your healthcare provider if you think your medical history may have an influence on your alcohol intake.

Read More

This month our featured recipe is Sante Fe Shrimp. The Southwestern flavors in this delicious shrimp meal are fantastic!

Below are a few of the typical questions our customer care department has answered on this month's theme. Each question is linked to a Web site that gives an answer and provides more detail. We hope you find this section helpful.