Fight Diabetes in Alabama! - Diabetes Classes (see below) Link between diabetes and obesity
var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Jan22,2007,10:24 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);Jan 22, 2007 08:24 PM MST 
Alabama is the second fattest state in the nation, and we rank 5th when it comes to diabetes.
It's a problem that's affecting children and adults.
There's help waiting for anyone who's facing this issue now, or maybe will be facing this medical crisis.
If you have diabetes, you're certainly not alone.
Right now, you share your condition with more than 20 million Americans.
Many of them have had it for years, even decades, having made the necessary adjustments that help them successfully manage the disease.
But just how can you make those adjustments?
One local hospital is taking a stand on the fight against diabetes and obesity.
Pam Glover from the diabetes and control center says that most Americans have excluded exercise in their lives and that's what has led to Alabama's high rates in diabetes and obesity.
"I think something that's affecting our entire country is that we have in general a more sedentary lifestyle. If we don't have a formula of some sort for exercise, we find ourselves everyday working at a computer or working more. Certain[ly] there are people that are very physically active at work," says Glover.
And why is it that there are higher rates of diabetes and obesity in smaller cities than in larger ones?
Pam contributes that to what she calls "the urban sprawl".
"Its something what we call urban sprawl. For example it takes me 20 minutes every day to drive to work well there's a lot of people in bigger cities they walk every where they go and in a lot of situations its not safe to walk so again if you don't create that formed exercise where are you going to get it."
Exercise is just one part of helping to maintain or reduce the risk of getting diabetes or being over weight.
"Diet plays a role, we've got so many convince foods again people are on the go their busy and we're just grabbing this and that."
Eating sensibly can not only help keep your diabetes in check, it can help you look and feel great.
That's why the diabetes control center has classes to help people like Renee Steveson make adjustments to their lifestyles that can help control diabetes and obesity.
"Its really informative because some of things I thought I knew I didn't know. She just gave me a little briefing and she was informing about the education class that I will have to take in about a couple of weeks that it will educate me more on the different type of information that I will need to regulate in my meal plan," says Steveson.
The control center wants our viewers to know that diabetes does not have a cure.
However, the disease can be controlled.
Treatment includes dietary changes, exercise, weight loss and usually oral medications or insulin injections and it's important to note that the control center is offering classes to help people maintain a healthy lifestyle.
You must be referred by your physician to attend one of these classes.
They are 4 hour sessions either on a Monday or Tuesday, with a follow up session on a Thursday.
If you want to talk to a doctor about this health issue or any other, call Monday to Thursday this week from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.
Numbers to call are 532-5044 or outside Huntsville toll free 1-800-947-7606.
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