November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes affects 11% of the US population, about 37 million people including both adults and children. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. Diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and is linked to some types of cancer. One out of three (96 million) people in the US have pre-diabetes which greatly increases the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes. The good news is that pre-diabetes can be reversed with weight loss and increased physical activity. The first step is taking a Pre-Diabetes Risk Test by picking up a printed form in the Welcome Center or by going to (https://diabetes.org/diabetes/risk-test). If you find that you are pre-diabetic it does not mean you are going to develop Type 2 diabetes but that you may need to make some lifestyle changes related to food choices and physical exercise. Be sure to see your doctor for additional tests. If you have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, be sure to monitor your blood sugar numbers, take your prescribed medications, stay active, and go for regular check-ups. Type 1 diabetics do not produce the hormone, insulin. Type 2 diabetics make an insufficient amount of insulin to process sugar in their body. The A1C blood test provides information about your average blood glucose levels, is used to diagnose Type 2 and pre-diabetes, as well as being the primary test for diabetic management. Fortunately, many medical advances in technology and treatments have made it possible for diabetics to manage their disease and lead productive lives.