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Diabetes Prevention & Awareness

Educating the Rio Grande Valley on Diabetes & Healthy Habits.

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Who is Unidos Contra La Diabetes?

A group of community leaders who want to improve the lives of the Rio Grande Valley. Our mission is to focus on prediabetes and the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
UCD is a collective impact, community partnership dedicated to preventing type 2 diabetes in the Rio Grande Valley. We bring people together in a structured way to achieve social, behavioral, and sustainable community change.

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Adults with Diabetes in the RGV

Source: RGV Health Connect, Health Resources and Services Administration, and CDC PLACES

According to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) data from 3 Federally Qualified Health Centers, in 2015 our diabetes rate for the Rio Grande Valley is 21.9%.
Since 2015, the Rio Grande Valley's rate of diabetes has increased by 5.3% (HRSA-FQHC data).
Texas’s rate of diabetes is increasing.
The work to prevent diabetes in the Rio Grande Valley must continue.

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children in Region One* have Acanthosis Nigricans (AN) and a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

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in

54% of children showed high rates of pre-hypertensive or hypertensive blood pressure.

98% of children showed high rates of obesity.

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What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Body makes little to no insulin, due to an immune system response that destroys insulin-producing cells.
Increased thirst or urination, increased hunger, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss.
Family history of diabetes, certain genetic features, certain viruses that have been linked to type 1 diabetes.
Daily insulin injections or use of an insulin pump.
Cannot be prevented because it is an autoimmune disease.

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What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Body doesn't respond to and use insulin well, or it may not make enough insulin.
Increased thirst or urination, increased hunger, blurred vision, tiredness & fatigue, numbness in hands or feet, sores or wounds that take long to heal.
Having a family member with type 2 diabetes , high LDL-Low Density Lipoprotein, “bad” cholesterol, age over 40 years old, race/ethnicity, being overweight or obese, smoking or over consumption of alcohol, bad diet habits, being physically in active, high blood pressure
Lifestyle Changes: Increased physical exercise, dietary changes, reducing sugary beverages, consistent healthcare checkups, oral & injectable medications.
Can be prevented, as two major risk factors can be modified: being overweight and inactivity

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What is Gestational Diabetes?

A type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy in women who don’t already have diabetes. Every year, 2% to 10% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes.

Occurs when your body can’t make enough insulin during your pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into the cells in your body for use as energy.
Typically, doesn’t have any symptoms. Medical history and risk factors may suggest to your doctor that you could have gestational diabetes.
Increases the mother's risk of having a large baby that needs to be delivered by cesarean section (C-section)

Your baby is at higher risk of:

Being very large (9 pounds or more), which can make delivery more difficult
Being born early, which can cause breathing and other problems
Having low blood sugar
Developing type 2 diabetes later in life
Testing typically occurs in between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Prior to pregnancy, loss of weight and regular physical activity can help with prevention

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Nutrition & Healthy Eating

Start with a 9-inch dinner plate (about the length of a business envelope):

Fill half with non-starchy vegetables, such as salad, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and carrots.
Fill one quarter with a lean protein, such as chicken, turkey, beans, tofu, or eggs.
Fill one quarter with carb foods. Foods that are higher in carbs include grains, starchy vegetables (such as potatoes and peas), rice, pasta, beans, fruit, and yogurt.
Add an array of colors to your plate and think of it as eating the rainbow
Dark, leafy greens, oranges, and tomatoes—even fresh herbs—are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and minerals

Say Yes To: a variety of fresh fruits & vegetables, low-fat and fat free yogurts with zero added sugar, meats such as salmon or chicken that have been air fried or grilled, whole beans with low sodium, grilled or steamed vegetables with herbs such as rosemary on top.

Say No To: refined grains such as white bread, rice, and pasta with less than 2 grams of fiber per serving. Avoid fast food, processed meats, frozen meals, and overly salty food items. Always remember to check the nutrition facts label and understand what you're putting in your body and the affects that it may have on you.

Reminder on Portion Size

3 ounces of meat, fish, or poultry - Palm of hand (no fingers)
1 ounce of meat or cheese - Thumb (tip to base)
1 cup or 1 medium fruit - Fist
1–2 ounces of nuts or pretzels - Cupped hand
1 tablespoon - Thumb tip (tip to 1st joint)
1 teaspoon - Fingertip (tip to 1st joint)

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Exercise & Physical Activity

Find Something You Like: Exercising by doing something you enjoy will help you stick to your movement plan. Stay motivated!

Move 150 Minutes: Getting at least 150 minutes of exercise per week can help you get the most benefits and stay healthy! That’s only 30 minutes a day.

Partner Up: Ask your friends or family members, it’s more fun when someone else is counting on you to show up.

Daily tasks such as vacuuming, mowing the lawn, or washing your car are considered physical exercise. Get creative & get your body moving!

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Rethink Your Drink

People who often drink sugary drinks are more likely to face health problems, such as weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis.

Latest guidelines recommend that people 2 years and older keep their intake of added sugars to less than 10% of their total daily calories

Tricks to Rethink Your Drink:

Choose water (tap or unsweetened, bottled, or sparkling) over sugary drinks.
Need more flavor? Add berries or slices of lime, lemon, or cucumber to water.
Missing fizzy drinks? Add a splash of 100% juice to plain sparkling water for a refreshing, low-calorie drink.
Plain coffee or teas, sparkling water, seltzers, and flavored waters, are low-calorie choices that can be part of a healthy diet.

A tip About Energy Drinks:

Energy Drinks are often marketed as products that increase energy. In addition to added sugar, these products may also contain substantial amounts of caffeine and other legal stimulants. Concerns have been raised about the potential health risks of these products, especially for young people.

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The Importance of Oral Healthcare

A healthy mouth is important for everyone, but high blood sugar can make it harder to keep your mouth healthy. If you have diabetes, learn how you can avoid oral health problems and keep a smile on your face. Good oral health habits can help prevent pain and infections from tooth and gum disease.

How diabetes Affects Oral Health:

You may have less saliva, causing your mouth to feel dry. (Dry mouth is also caused by certain medicines.)
Your gums may become inflamed and bleed often (signs of gum disease).
Infections in your mouth can take longer to heal.

Here are a few important tips:

Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Floss your teeth at least once a day.
Tell your dentist if you have diabetes.
If your gums are red, swollen, or bleed easily, see your dentist. These may be signs of gum disease. Other signs include dry mouth, loose teeth, or mouth pain.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking increases your risk of gum disease and can worsen your diabetes.

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Vision Loss for Diabetics

In the United States, people with diabetes have a 25 times higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. Glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye disorders occur earlier and more often in people with diabetes.

Diabetic Retinopathy:

This common eye disease is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. Diabetic retinopathy is caused when high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina (a light-sensitive layer of cells in the back of the eye).
Anyone with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant) can develop diabetic retinopathy.

Risk Factors for Diabetic Retinopathy:

Anyone with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant) can develop diabetic retinopathy. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop it. These factors can also increase your risk:
Blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels are too high.
Smoking.
Race/ethnicity: African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and American Indians/Alaska Natives are at higher risk.

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Vision Loss for Diabetics

Two Main Stages

Early Stage (non-proliferative):

Blood vessel walls in the retina weaken and bulge, forming tiny pouches that leak blood and fluid
Cause swelling in the retina (macula) and distort your vision
Most common cause of blindness in people with diabetic retinopathy, 50% will develop macular edema

Advanced Stage (proliferative):

Retina begins to grow new blood vessels
New vessels are fragile and often bleed into the vitreous (the clear gel between the lens and retina)
Major bleeding will cause distorted vision or complete blindness

Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment:

Treating diabetic retinopathy can repair damage to the eye and even prevent blindness in most people. Options include:
Laser therapy (also called laser photocoagulation). This creates a barrier of scar tissue that slows the growth of new blood vessels.
Medicines called VEGF inhibitors, which can slow down or reverse diabetic retinopathy.
Removing all or part of the vitreous (vitrectomy).
Reattachment of the retina (for retinal detachment, a complication of diabetic retinopathy).
Injection of medicines called corticosteroids.

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Diabetes & Proper Foot Care

About half of people with diabetes have nerve damage. You can have nerve damage in any part of your body, but nerves in your feet and legs are most often affected. Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet.

Could You Have Nerve Damage?

Factors that increase your risk:

Blood sugar levels that are hard to manage
Having diabetes for a long time, especially if your blood sugar is often higher than your target levels
Being overweight
Being older than 40 years
Having high blood pressure
Having high cholesterol

Tips for Healthy Feet:

Check your feet every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses
Wash your feet every day in warm (not hot) water, and apply lotion to the top and bottom—but not between your toes
Never go barefoot. Always wear shoes and socks or slippers
Get your feet checked at every health care visit. Also, visit your foot doctor every year (more often if you have nerve damage)
Keep the blood flowing. Put your feet up when you’re sitting and wiggle your toes for a few minutes

Regular care at home and going to all doctor’s appointments are your best bet for preventing foot problems (and stopping small problems from becoming serious ones).

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UCD Toolkits & Resources

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Meet HYDRO!

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Community Resources

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Sarahi Lozano

Data Coordinator

Slozano@ucdrgv.org

Susana Arizmendi

Project Coordinator

sarizmendi@ucdrgv.org

Noah Davis

CI Facilitator

ndavis@ucdrgv.org

Moises Arjona Jr

CI Director

marjona@ucdrgv.org

Backbone Staff

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Descargo de responsabilidad: La información sobre prevención y concientización sobre la diabetes se proporciona solo con fines generales y educativos y no reemplaza el asesoramiento profesional. Antes de tomar cualquier medida basada en dicha información, le recomendamos que consulte con un profesional de la salud adecuado. EL USO O CONFIANZA DE CUALQUIER INFORMACIÓN CONTENIDA EN ESTA PRESENTACIÓN O EN CUALQUIER MATERIAL ADICIONAL PROPORCIONADO POR UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES ES EXCLUSIVAMENTE BAJO SU PROPIO RIESGO.

Disclaimer: The diabetes prevention and awareness information is provided for general and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any action based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate healthcare professional. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESENTATION OR ON ANY ADDITIONAL MATERIALS PROVIDED BY UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES IS SOLEY AT YOUR OWN RISK.