State health initiative focuses on diabetes in January — a disease that impacts nearly one in seven Kentucky adults

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

The focus of January’s “Our Healthy Kentucky Home” initiative is diabetes, a disease that impacts nearly one in seven Kentucky adults.

“Almost 14% of Kentucky adults — that’s more than 480,000 people — have diabetes and another 14% of adults have pre-diabetes, which increases their risk of becoming diabetic as well as for cardiovascular disease and even strokes,” Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said at a Jan. 7 news conference.

Further, he said Kentucky has the ninth-highest diabetes-related death rate in the nation.

But the good news, he said, is that these rates can improve by incorporating simple and sustainable lifestyle changes into our daily routines.

“In fact, you can often lower your risk of becoming diabetic, or if you already have diabetes, you can still improve your health and add quality years to your life,” he said.

Stack said a good meal plan to manage blood sugar includes non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins and higher-quality carbohydrates such as fruit and whole grains. In addition, he said, incorporating regular physical activity is essential to preventing and managing diabetes.

“By increasing your activity level, you can significantly decrease your risk of diabetes and its related complications,” he said.

He also encouraged people to stay connected with others.

“Social connection can provide emotional encouragement and a sense of accountability, which positively impacts diabetes management,” he said.

Stack recognized that the cost of diabetes medications and supplies can be a significant burden for many Kentuckians. To help with this, he said the state has a prescription program that helps qualifying individuals pay for their medications.

“If you are a diabetic and having a hard time affording your medications, the Kentucky Prescriptions Assistance Program, or KPAP, may be able to help. KPAP helps qualifying individuals identify sources of free or low-cost medications. If you or someone you know needs assistance, call the KPAP hotline or visit the Our Healthy Kentucky Home website.”

The Our Healthy Kentucky Home website includes links to diabetes resources, including ones that address pre-diabetes, eating healthy, the Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program and more.

The “Our Healthy Kentucky Home” initiative is a one-year program to improve Kentuckian’s health. The overarching goals of the state initiative are for Kentuckians to eat two servings of fruits and vegetables daily, to exercise at least 30 minutes three times per week, and to engage with others and stay connected. In addition, it will focus on a different health topic each month.

“This is a year-long journey,” Stack said. “It’s about taking relatively small steps and making them a regular part of our lives by taking a thoughtful and gradual approach. In doing so, we can build a solid and sustainable foundation that will result in better health and wellness.”