This Saturday, the Foundation for Leon County Schools and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare will be working together to help “stomp out” Type 2 Diabetes. It should be a morning full of edutainment, with activities including: International pro riders from Team Type 1, celebrity coaches and athletes from FSU, FAMU, and the NFL, fitness and health education, Fire fighters awareness, and free health screenings. Along with the educational seminars, music and entertainment, there will also be a 5k run and a 10k mountain bike race. If the wind and rain manage to hold off until later in the evening, I think there might be a good turnout at Tom Brown Park. It will certainly be cold, but I think we’re all use to it by now. And, what better way to stay warm than to go for a run!

That’s what I will be doing, since I believe supporting education and awareness regarding type 2 diabetes is a very worthy cause. Despite it being a preventable disease, the severity of its impact and its growing prevalence in our country is staggering. Here are some sobering statistics from the American Diabetes Association: 23.6 million children and adults in the United States (7.8% of the population) have diabetes. As well, 1.6 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older each year. Sadly, many of the people who are at risk of contracting type 2 diabetes are either unaware of the causes, or feel that they are unable to make the necessary lifestyle changes in order to become healthier.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks insulin producing cells, type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose, the basic fuel for cells and muscles. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can lead to diabetic complications like heart disease, blindness, and nervous system damage.

Teaching people about the risks of eating a high carb diet loaded with refined sugars is essential if we are going to reverse this deadly health trend.

A growing amount of research is showing that adopting the Paleo diet could significantly help people win the fight to control their blood sugar levels. In a recent study, 13 patients with diabetes were instructed to eat a Paleolithic diet based on lean meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, root vegetables, eggs and nuts; and a Diabetes diet designed in accordance with dietary guidelines during two consecutive 3-month periods. At the end of the study, the Paleolithic diet improved glycemic control and several cardiovascular risk factors compared to a Diabetes diet in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Chances are, we all know somebody who is currently suffering from type 2 diabetes or is at risk of contracting it. How could we not, when 1 out of 12 people have either been diagnosed already or just don’t know they have the disease. The simplest way you can help is to strive to eat a healthy diet, low in refined sugars, and encourage your family and friends to do the same. If you have children, try not to let them eat candy and drink soda all the time. These are small things, but small changes compounded over a lifetime of eating can amount to a world of difference. Let’s stomp out type 2 diabetes together!