A Message From Our Executive Director
Andrew P. Mandell, MR. DIABETES©August 2009If there ever was a time for all Americans to take stock of their lifestyles, that time is now. We are in the midst of one of the greatest political battles in our 233 years of existence – healthcare.
The two sides of the issue boil down to 1) having the corporate interests continue to set the standards of our medical coverage or 2) allowing the government to institute a new twist – adding a “public option” as a competitive tool, intended to keep the existing health care system in line.
Either way, doing business as usual will very probably not exist for very much longer – a few years at most. And the cost of health care in the United States is already through the roof. But, it’s going to get worse, a lot worse.
So, the next question to ask ourselves is “what can I, as an individual, do about it”? Well, the answer is PLENTY!!
No matter what your age, no matter what your current state of health, no matter what your station in life, you have the power to improve yourself.
Our target subject is diabetes. The current financial cost of diabetes is $225 billion annually. The cost in personal health terms is devastating: blindness, heart attack, stroke, amputation, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, hearing loss, dental disease, life expectancy shortened by 10-15 years, and more.
Defeat Diabetes Foundation is about self-management of this disease, whether you are one of the 24 million Americans who already have it (up to one third are undiagnosed) or one of the 57 million Americans who have “pre-diabetes” and will get it in the next 10-15 years unless you change your lifestyle, immediately, to prevent it. And, of course, all those future generations; the Department of Health and Human Services tells us that 1 of 3 children born after 2000 will get diabetes in their lifetime. It doesn’t have to be. We can profile who’s most at risk for developing diabetes, even before birth in many instances. And so, we can prevent Type 2 diabetes up to 95% of the time. (Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of all diabetes cases.) So, here’s what you do……………….
1. Go to
www.DefeatDiabetes.org and take the 2 minute on-line Defeat Diabetes® Screening Test.
2. See an endocrinologist or internal medicine specialist and get the A1C Test. It is definitive to let you know if you have diabetes. It can effectively diagnose diabetes up to eight years, or more, before the symptoms appear.
3. Go to
www.DefeatDiabetes.org select SELF-MANAGEMENT and then select “nutrition” to begin a truly wonderful adventure into the world of fruits & veggies and other healthful foods.
4. Go to
https://www.presidentschallenge.org/challenge/physical/ and learn about over 100 activities that qualify as exercise. There you will surely find a favorite activity, no matter your age or current health.
Always know that it is up to each of us to protect our own health. We have the tools and we know the rules: see your doctor, eat right and exercise. Be an example to your kids. Save lots of money instead of spending it, unnecessarily, on doctors to fix a preventable disease and enjoy a health filled life! Do not wait for a remedy from the government, the insurance companies and/or the pharmaceutical companies to solve this problem. You already have the best solution.
Interesting fact: if everybody lived as if they were diabetic, you would see all kinds of disease be reduced to only a fraction of what those numbers are today. The proper diabetes lifestyle is the most perfect lifestyle and everyone should follow it.
And, remember: What’s worse than finding out you have diabetes?...NOT finding out!!
Andrew P. Mandell – MR. DIABETES®
Good Health.
Andrew P. Mandell – MR. DIABETES® Executive Director 
