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Prevention and awareness are key essentials in maintaining our physical bodies. Many resources may be found here including: statistics, demographics, and basic health regulations to assist you in a lifelong journey of whole health focusing on the first component of wholeness, the body. The health and faith resources found on this site combined can bring balance between our body, soul (mind, will and emotions) and spirit. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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Wondering how you can be more health conscious and are unsure where to start? You can check the National Health Observances calendar and see how you and your congregation celebrate health and honor those you love by making them aware of resources and agencies that provide support and materials to help you succeed!
Focus on health observances throughout the year.
Timely Topics:
Here's how to fight the "flu"...
Use this guide to discover the most common causes of the most common symptoms for your illnesses...
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Diabetes
Description: Actually a group of diseases, diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to properly metabolize glucose (or sugar). A person with diabetes has insufficient insulin (Type 1) or cells that do not respond to the insulin produced by the body, a condition that leads to an increase of glucose in the body (Type 2).
Diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar and is incurable. A person with diabetes must be treated for the rest of his or her life.
Incidence: Common (nearly sixteen million Americans; six percent of the US population)
Prevalence: Males equally with females (except gestational diabetes, which occurs only in females)
Signs and symptoms:
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High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
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Increased frequency of urination
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Weight loss (though appetite remains)
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Increased thirst
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Blurred vision
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Fatigue
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Infections
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Diabetic coma (diabetic ketoacidosis-DKA)
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Lethargy
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Fruity breath odor
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Increased respiration
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Dehydration
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Abdominal pain
Risk factors:
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Heredity
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Age (type1:children;type2: more than forty years of age)
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Race (type1:predominantly Anglo-American; type 2: predominantly African-Americans, and Hispanics)
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Obesity (type 2)
Usual treatment:
Type 1
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Insulin
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Strict diet
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Regular eating patterns
Type 2
Usual course: Diabetes lasts a lifetime, but when it is adequately controlled with medications and diet, a persons’ lifespan need not be shortened. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious and even fatal complications of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and amputations. Short-term complications can include coma and death. People with diabetes have a poorer resistance to infection and slower to hear.
Spiritual considerations:
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Encourage close adherence to prescribed treatment to reduce risk of complications.
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Be aware that medications taken for diabetes may cause sexual dysfunction.
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Use prayer and medication to help reduce stress levels.
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Instill hope.
Suggested scriptures: Psalms 43:5; Philippians 4:4-7
Resources:
National Diabetics Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3560
1-800-860-8747
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
1-800-DIABETES
(1-800-343-2383)
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Faith, hope, and love coupled with wisdom assists the believer in achieving health harmony in the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and spirit. Strengthen your inner man's soul and spirit by the associated articles, resources, and inspiration in our faith section. May the Lord prosper you with whole health. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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We welcome collaboration with any professional health care agencies, as well as, church leaders. Also, if you are interested in linking, contributing or assisting Congregational Health ReSource with content, please contact us.
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