Give value to your every step!

Let's go ahead together!
Took action and show your support in practice for people with diabetes.
http://www.makeeverystepcount.com.cy/
Walk, run, swim, cycle, dance ... wherever you are worldwide.
The sanofi-aventis with the World Diabetes Federation (IDF) are asked to actively support the World Diabetes Day.And you add the distance you've traveled to give value to every step!

Get in www.makeeverystepcount.com.cy to learn how!Action for Diabetes. Now!

Diabetes is a global health problem that is spreading. In less than 20 years, an estimated 1 in 12 people worldwide will develop diabetes. We can no longer ignore diabetes ..

The need to address the problem of diabetes becomes stronger every day. Continuing care - caring life - with proper training, medications and new technologies, is a right and not privilege.

The sanofi-aventis effort is dedicated to diabetes management by providing customized solutions with integrated treatment programs, diagnostic methods and devices and services.Cooperation is our way to achieve this goal.

That is why the sanofi supports the Cyprus Diabetic Association and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), asking you to actively support the activities for World Diabetes Day. If health is your priority, you can make a difference.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease characterized by hyperglycemia, ie elevated levels of glucose (sugar) levels.

Why rise in blood sugar?
Blood sugar rises personalized the absence or reduced activity of insulin.

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas and is responsible for maintaining normal levels of blood glucose.

What use insulin?Insulin allows glucose to enter the cells so that she could use it for energy production.When glucose can not enter cells, either because there is no insulin or because insulin is not as active, glucose accumulates in the blood (hyperglycemia). If this happens for too long, you risk prklithoun damage to blood vessels.

What are the symptoms of diabetes;The most characteristic symptoms of diabetes are polyuria, thirst and rapid weight loss.Unfortunately, the symptoms appear when the sugar level in blood is already very high (usually above 200 mg / dl).

How many and what types of diabetes exist;There are two types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes, in which there is no insulin due to destruction of cells that produce it (beta-cells in the pancreas). It appears, usually at a young age, but this is not necessary.
• Type 2 diabetes, where there is decreased insulin production, or more commonly, the insulin is not enough.

Who should be tested for diabetes;Every adult over 45 should check your blood sugar's (morning examining the microbiology laboratory after an overnight fast). If it is within normal limits (70 - 100 mg / dl), should repeat the test after 1 to 3 years. But someone who is overweight or obese or doing sedentary or first-degree relative with diabetes or hypertension (over 140 mmHg systolic and 9 mmHg above the diastolic pressure) or HDL (good) cholesterol below 35 mg / dl, even if you are younger than 45 years, will have to check blood sugar. Finally, a woman who has experienced diabetes during pregnancy or birth to a child weighing more than 4,5 Kg, should also check the blood sugar.

When someone described as a diabetic;If your fasting blood sugar is above 126 mg / dl or random measurement, any time of day, found sugar over 200 mg / dl and is accompanied by symptoms, that person suffers from diabetes. And in both cases should be confirmed with a second examination. Method, however, remains the charging process glucose (sugar curve), which granted 75 gr glucose and measured the blood sugar 2 hours after. Normally, this should be below 140 mg / dl. If the price remains above 200 mg / dl, the person designated as diabetic, while prices of 140 - 200 mg / dl is the diagnosis of abnormal glucose tolerance. Individuals with abnormal glucose tolerance should be checked frequently and immediately begin to lose weight and increased physical activity, they have increased risk of becoming diabetic subjects in the near future.

If I am a diabetic, what should I do to avoid complications;To minimize the risk of complications, you should keep:

• fasting blood sugar below 130 mg / dl
• sugar 2 hours after a meal below 180 mg / dl
• glycosylated hemoglobin Alc below 7%
• your blood pressure below 130 mmHg systolic (high) and below 80 mmHg diastolic (low)
• the LDL (bad) cholesterol below 100 mg / dl
• the HDL (good) cholesterol above 50 mg / dl
• triglycerides below 150 mg / dl.

And do not forget that smoking cessation is extremely important!