A few weeks ago I began discussing a topic that is very pertinent to the fire service – heart health.

Aside from smoking, there are 5 major heart disease risk factors: obesity, low aerobic fitness, poor blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood glucose.

Today’s topic is high blood glucose which develops into type II diabetes. Although type II diabetes is a very manageable disease, it is very hazardous for the cardiovascular system. Consequently, most individuals with type II diabetes have a shorter life span than average and die of heart disease.

Research shows that firefighters who have type II diabetes are 10 times more likely to die on duty of a heart attack or stroke.

Preventing diabetes is much better and easier than treating it.

Diabetes develops over time and can be reversed if in early stages, therefore it’s very important have your blood glucose levels checked regularly. People who have a fasting blood glucose of 100-125 mg/dL are “pre-diabetic” but still have the ability to ward off diabetes. However, once the disease has fully set in (fasting blood glucose of >125 mg/dL) it is not reversible.

Having a healthy body weight reduces risk of diabetes by 50-75%

The single greatest risk factor for developing type II diabetes is being overweight, particularly around the midsection (75% of diabetic people are overweight). Therefore, weight loss is the single most important objective for a person who has or is at risk for diabetes.

Exercising regularly (even just walking) reduces risk of diabetes by 30-50%

Exercise, even in the absence of weight loss, both prevents and treats diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity. That means exercise does the same exact thing that diabetes medication does!

In fact, for pre-diabetic people, exercise and weight loss have been shown to be more effective than medication at preventing the development of diabetes. A diet high in fiber and low in fat and simple carbohydrates is recommended to avoid and treat high fasting blood glucose.

I challenge you to take the pledge to either have your blood glucose levels checked or take action to reduce your risk of developing type II diabetes. Please leave your name below so we can cheer you on.

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