Lehigh County Health & Medicine Spring 2020 - 14

Half of all Americans age 65 or older have
pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing
type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, there were
a total of 1.7 million new total diabetes cases
in 2012, and adults aged 45 to 64 were the
most diagnosed age group for type 2 diabetes.
"With this shift to include seniors 55-plus,
we can assure that we're not just managing
diabetes after it's diagnosed, but working
with seniors individually to change the
lifestyle choices that can lead to diabetes
later in life," added Bell.
To provide direct services to older adults,
United Way has partnered with YWCA of
Bethlehem, Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley,
Casa Guadalupe Center, Lehigh Valley Active
Life and Greater Valley YMCA.
"Statistics from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 84
More than a decade later, Annette's weekly managing diabetes, but not everyone has million people in the U.S. have pre-diabetes,
routine involves healthy meals, several days of access to those resources or knows how to up from 79 million people in 2010. Without
aquatic fitness classes at the gym and walking find them.
weight loss and moderate physical activity,
whenever the weather allows. The exercise
15 to 30 percent of people with pre-diabetes
particularly helps manage her stress levels.
As volunteer Chair of the Diabetes Coa- will develop type 2 diabetes within five years,"
lition of the Lehigh Valley, Annette works said Maribel Tandazo, Director of Pathway
"Most people with diabetes don't realize with Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley and United Development, Greater Valley YMCA. "Prohow important it is to keep their stress levels Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to make grams like the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention
low. You can eat healthy and exercise every- sure all older adults living in the Greater Program have been shown to prevent or delay
day but if you have high stress, your levels Lehigh Valley can access the resources they new cases of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent
will run up and down like a rollercoaster. need to prevent and manage diabetes, which and as much as 71 percent in adults over
What I have learned during this journey, is affects one in four Americans over age 60. In the age of 60."
that I am in control of my mind, body and fact, United Way recently extended diabetes
spirit. I have done extensive research on prevention and management programs to
In a community that's aging demographwhat helps my body stay healthy and what adults age 55 and older.
ically, Bell says it's important that seniors
causes my body harm. I have the tools I
understand that diabetes does not have to
need to keep me healthy and happy. If you
"The Diabetes Coalition strives to lower be a part of getting older.
allow it, diabetes will control your life. You the rate of diabetes in Lehigh, Northampton
need to educate yourself and find ways to and Carbon counties. To do that, we have to
"This is the time of our lives where we still
allow your body to heal itself the way it was make sure we're reaching at-risk adults before feel young and vibrant and are able to keep
meant to," added Annette.
it's too late," said Carmen Bell, Director of ourselves moving by exercising and engaging
Healthy Aging, United Way of the Greater in healthy activities. Keeping fit in our 50s
Limiting saturated fats and staying active Lehigh Valley.
will only benefit us as we mature into our
are keys to reducing blood-sugar levels and
60s and 70s," added Annette.

To learn more about Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley and the Diabetes Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, visit
www.agefriend lylv.org.
14 Lehigh County Health & Medicine | SPRING 2020

http://www.agefriend http://www.lylv.org

Lehigh County Health & Medicine Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lehigh County Health & Medicine Spring 2020