--- title: Live Your Best Life description: USFHP is your choice provider when it comes to tackling preventable disorders like type 2 diabetes, and managing diabetes of any type after diagnosis. image: https://blog.usfhp.net/hubfs/healthy-fruits-and-vegetables-free-photo-2210x1473.jpg --- [![](https://usfhp2.knockmedia.dev/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/logo-1.png)](https://blog.usfhp.net/) - [About Us](https://usfhp.net/about/) - [Events & Webinars](https://usfhp.net/events-and-webinars/) - [Contact Us](https://usfhp.net/contact/) [Members](https://member.usfhp.net/) [Providers](https://provider.usfhp.net/) - [Members](https://usfhp.net/members/) - [For Members](https://usfhp.net/members/) - [Members Login](https://member.usfhp.net/) - [Care Management Program](https://usfhp.net/care-management-program/) - [Health Centers](https://usfhp.net/health-centers/) - [Member FAQs](https://usfhp.net/member-faqs/) - [Providers](https://usfhp.net/providers/) - [For Providers](https://usfhp.net/for-providers/) - [Providers Login](https://provider.usfhp.net/) - [Become a Member](https://usfhp.net/eligibility/) - [Eligibility](https://usfhp.net/eligibility/) - [Health Benefit Consultants](https://usfhp.net/health-benefit-consultants) - [Plan Benefits](https://usfhp.net/plan-benefits/) - [Tricare Prime Coverage](https://usfhp.net/tricare-prime-coverage/) - [Enrollment](https://usfhp.net/enrollment/) - [Members](https://usfhp.net/members/) - [For Members](https://usfhp.net/members/) - [Members Login](https://member.usfhp.net/) - [Plan Benefits](https://usfhp.net/plan-benefits/) - [Care Management Program](https://usfhp.net/care-management-program/) - [Health Centers](https://usfhp.net/health-centers/) - [Providers](https://usfhp.net/providers/) - [For Providers](https://usfhp.net/for-providers/) - [Providers Login](https://provider.usfhp.net/) - [Webinars](https://usfhp.net/webinars/) - [Contact](https://usfhp.net/contact/) - [Enrollment](https://usfhp.net/enrollment/) - [About](https://usfhp.net/about/) - [Provider Login](https://provider.usfhp.net/) - [Member Login](https://member.usfhp.net/) ### Contact - - - # Weekly Health Tips # Live Your Best Life Posted by [USFHP](https://blog.usfhp.net/author/usfhp) on Oct 19, 2020 4:00:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![fruits and vegetables image by Viktor Hanacek](https://blog.usfhp.net/hs-fs/hubfs/healthy-fruits-and-vegetables-free-photo-2210x1473.jpg?width=600&name=healthy-fruits-and-vegetables-free-photo-2210x1473.jpg) Live Your Best Life   **Diabetes is a leading health issue but its complications can be easily prevented and controlled with thoughtful planning and persistence.** Diabetes poses a substantial health risk to many Americans across the United States. According to the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html#:~:text=34.2%20million%20US%20adults%20have,limb%20amputations%2C%20and%20adult%20blindness.) “34.2 million US adults have diabetes, and 1 in 5 of them don’t know they have it.”  **So what exactly is diabetes, how does someone get it, and how can it be prevented or managed?** Diabetes is a chronic health disorder that creates complications in how the body converts foods into nutrients at the cellular level. This mostly has to do with the presence of the chemical hormone called insulin. Under normal circumstances you eat food and the food is broken down into a simple sugar called glucose. Insulin is then released into the body by the pancreas as a kind of regulator that allows the glucose to enter the body’s cells for use as energy. When someone has diabetes their body either does not respond properly to the presence of insulin or does not produce enough insulin. In both cases the result is that too much glucose remains in the blood and this can lead to severe complications including [**kidney disease**](https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease), [**heart disease**](https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease), and [**vision loss**](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371617). **What are the types of diabetes?** **Type 1 Diabetes** Approximately 5-10% of people diagnosed with diabetes suffer from type 1, which is acquired genetically and is believed to be the result of an autoimmune reaction that causes the body to not produce enough insulin. There is no known means to prevent the onset of type 1. **Type 2 Diabetes ** Around 90-95% of diagnosed diabetes cases are made of people with type. This form of the disorder is the result of lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity and diet and is caused by the body failing to respond to insulin as a result of the long-term build-up of the effects of these lifestyle habits. Type 2 can be prevented and managed through responsible dietary practices and regular exercise. **Gestational Diabetes** A third type of diabetes can develop during pregnancy for women who have otherwise never been diabetic. While the symptoms usually recede after pregnancy, the onset of this disorder puts both the child and mother at higher risk for the development of type 2 diabetes later in life. **Prediabetes** Over 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are classified as prediabetic meaning they have higher than suggested glucose levels. While not bringing about the damage of diabetes, this condition puts individuals at this status at much higher risk of contracting type 2 diabetes. 80% of those with this condition have no idea that they are in this high-risk group. **Prevention and Management** While there is no cure for diabetes once diagnosed, the good news is that the disease’s onset can be prevented and its effects can be managed through the careful planning of a healthy lifestyle. **Diet** This means maintaining a diet with reduced sugars, sodium, and carbohydrates; drinking plenty of water; eating a diet composed of 50% or more in non-starchy vegetables including high amounts of leafy green veggies; consuming healthy fats such as those that come from fish, avocados, nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate; taking in lots of fiber; and controlling portions. **Activity** As far as being active, you should have a consistent routine of at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, no less than 5 days a week. We are Here to Help The USFHP Care delivery team can help you get and stay on track. Call us to talk about your next steps @ 800-241-4848 Option#8     Topics: [Healthy Living](https://blog.usfhp.net/topic/healthy-living), [Heatlhy Eating](https://blog.usfhp.net/topic/heatlhy-eating), [TRICARE Prime](https://blog.usfhp.net/topic/tricare-prime), [Health](https://blog.usfhp.net/topic/health), [Good Eating Habits](https://blog.usfhp.net/topic/good-eating-habits) [![](http://usfhp2.test/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Group-1774.png)](https://blog.usfhp.net/) To provide the highest quality health care for uniformed services family members, retirees, and their family members. - - - [Contact Us](https://blog.usfhp.net/) [Member's Portal](https://blog.usfhp.net/) Provider Quick Links - About - Resources - FAQs - Videos [Provider's Portal](https://blog.usfhp.net/) Member Quick Links - [Enroll](http://usfhp2.test/enrollment/) - Benefits - Locations - Webinars --- TRICARE is a registered trademark of the Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency. ©2022 All rights reserved. website by [knockmedia](https://knockmedia.com)