November is Prematurity Awareness Month

November is Prematurity Awareness Month and when the March of Dimes focuses the nation's attention on the impact premature  birth has on babies, families and communities. premature birth is now the number one killer of newborns and babies who survive may be disabled for life.

Every year, more than half a million babies are born too soon in the United States. Our country's premature birth rate has risen by 36 percent over the last 25 years. that's serious cause for concern.
Premature birth costs society more than $26 billion a year and takes a high toll on families. When a baby is born prematurely, before 37 completed weeks gestation, there can be many problems. premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and many disabilities. it can happen to any baby without warning and for no know reason. Until we have more answers, no one knows whose baby will be next. Despite advances that give the tiniest babies a chance of survival, premature birth often remains a life-threatening condition. the rate is even higher among African-Americans for whom one baby in every six is affected. Unfortunately most people are not aware that premature birth is a problem, or how widespread it is.

You can  do something about the national health crisis of premature birth. During November and all year, marchofdimes.com offers many ways for you to take action, from wearing pink and blue, to sending letters and raising funds.

Here are some suggestions of what we all can do--
Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant:

• Get early and regular prenatal care
• Talk to her health care provider about how to reduce her risk for preterm labor
• Learn the signs and symptoms of preterm labor and what to do if it happens

Health Care providers can:

• Be diligent in counseling pregnant patients on reducing their risks for preterm labor and teaching them the signs and symptoms of preterm labor and what to do.

Everyone else:

• Recognize that premature birth is a common serious and costly problem of all of us.
• Understand that preterm labor can happen to any woman; the causes of nearly half of premature births are not known.
• Understand that until we have more answers, no one knows whose baby will be next.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has been a proud national program partner with the March of Dimes for the past 40 years though our national Stork's Nest program. please support the March of Dimes on World Prematurity Day on Saturday, November 17, 2012 by participating in local events in the area and by goind to Facebook.com/WorldPrematurityDay on November 17th to help raise awareness.

Source: marchofdimes.com

November: American Diabetes Month

The vision of the American Diabetes Association is a life free of diabetes and all of its burdens.  Raising awareness if this ever-growing disease is one of the main efforts behind the mission of the Association.

What is Diabetes?

• Diabetes is a disease that changes the way your body uses sugar.  The food you eat turns to sugar. The sugar then travels through the blood to all parts of the body. Usually, insulin helps get sugar from the blood to the body's cells, where it is used for energy.
• When you have diabetes, your body has trouble making and/or using insulin. So your body does not get the fuel it needs. And your blood sugar stays too high.

Prevalence

• Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes.
• Another 79 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
• Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to Stop Diabetes.

The Toll on Health

• Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults.
• The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes.
• About 60-70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction and other nerve problems.

What are the types of diabetes?

• Type 1 -- The body does not make any insulin. people with type 1 must take insulin everyday to stay alive.
• Type 2 -- The body does not make enough insulin, or use insulin well. Most people with diabetes have Type 2.

What are the warning signs?

• Going to the bathroom a lot
• Feeling hungry or thirsty all the time
• Blurred vision
• Losing weight without trying
• Cuts or bruises that are slow to heal
• Feeling tired all the time
• Hands and feet that tingle or feet numb
• Most people with diabetes do not notice any signs

Source: http://www.diabetes.org