Greenwich Hospital is hosting a Diabetes Health Fair June 10 from 4-7 p.m.

 

Greenwich Hospital is hosting a Diabetes Health Fair June 10 from 4-7 p.m. Diabetes is one of the most misunderstood medical conditions. “It’s not just about sugar. It’s about your heart,” says Nancy Ryan, a registered dietitian, board-certified in advanced diabetes management at the hospital.

 

Diabetes is the result of the body’s inability to properly use or make the hormone insulin, which is needed to convert sugar and starch from food into energy. Complications occur when sugar accumulates in the blood instead of going into the cells. This is referred to as high blood sugar or a high glucose level, and it can trigger higher than normal cholesterol and blood pressure, leading to increased risk of heart attack, stroke and vascular disease in the legs.

 

Although prediabetes has no symptoms it is not benign, notes Ryan. People with the condition have an increased risk for heart attack, stroke and neuropathy, which creates tingling sensations or numbing caused by changes in nerve function. If ignored, about half of all people with prediabetes will go on to develop diabetes.

 

Genetics is one cause; another is where you store your body fat. People with belly fat are at higher risk than those who store fat in their hips and thighs. Prediabetes is often diagnosed through blood tests associated with a routine physical exam. “It’s a wake-up call. The condition can often be reversed through diet and exercise,” says Ryan, adding, “The key is to eat well, maintain a good weight, and move, move, move.

 

If you have prediabetes, losing 10 pounds, which most people can do,  reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.

 

Stop by the Health Fair to keep abreast of the latest advances in diabetes management. Healthcare professionals are also encouraged to attend. This event is free. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call 203-863-3929.