By Erika La Pelusa
Nearly 24 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, and 57 million more Americans have prediabetes and are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. November is National Diabetes Awareness month, a time when the American Diabetes Association spreads awareness about the disease and the seriousness of its complications.
Since 1987, the death rate of diabetes has climbed 45%. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure and of new cases of blindness, and two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. 60-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage, and the rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes may seem harmless and include:
Type 1 Diabetes
— Frequent urination
— Unusual thirst
— Extreme hunger
— Unusual weight loss
— Extreme fatigue and irritability
Type 2 Diabetes
— Any of the type 1 symptoms
— Frequent infections
— Blurred vision
— Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
— Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
— Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
According to the American Diabetes Association, studies indicate that “the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.”
You can prevent or retard the onset of type 2 diabetes by engaging in healthy lifestyle practices, such as eating a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Some risk factors for diabetes include people with a family history of diabetes, people who are overweight and do not participate in regular exercise, and people with low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides.
A free risk test is available online at the American Diabetes Association’s website: www.diabetes.org
The American Diabetes Association launched the Stop Diabetes Movement last November, with the goal of having one million people join in the first year. To date, 814,000 Americans have joined.
For more information or to join the Stop Diabetes Movement, visit stopdiabetes.com or call 1-800-DIABETES.
