American Diabetes Month�
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Nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes and every 19 seconds someone else in the United States is diagnosed. Another 86 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The financial impact of the disease is also alarming. Diabetes is estimated to cost the nation $245 billion annually and an estimated 1 in 5 healthcare dollars is spent caring for people with diabetes. Early detection and treatment of diabetes is important to decrease the risk of developing the complications of the disease such as heart disease, kidney disease and blindness.
Do we have your attention now?
When you consider the number of people who suffer from some form of diabetes and the economic impact the disease has, it makes sense to educate ourselves about the disease during the month of November � American Diabetes Month� (ADM).
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is diagnosed when there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. Insulin is the key hormone involved in diabetes. Normally, insulin removes sugar from the bloodstream to feed the cells of the body. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the cells of the body not accepting the insulin produced.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is due to the body�s inability to make insulin. This type of diabetes can be hereditary and makes up 5 percent of the diabetic population, including adults and children (juvenile-onset diabetes).
Type 2 diabetes is brought on by the body not responding to insulin, leaving too much sugar in the bloodstream. An estimated 95 percent of the diabetic population has type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes can often be controlled with lifestyle changes including weight loss, dietary changes and physical activity.
Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes � blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes is considered an early warning sign that a type 2 diabetes diagnosis is likely to occur if changes are not made in the person�s lifestyle.
Gestational diabetes affects pregnant women and is the result of insulin not removing blood sugar as it should. If present, gestational diabetes is addressed by making dietary considerations while pregnant. This type of diabetes typically resolves itself once the baby is born but it is important that women with gestational diabetes keep a close eye on blood sugar throughout their lives.
Diabetes Symptoms
Symptoms like frequent urination and increased thirst/hunger are common signs of diabetes.
Learn more about diabetes this month from the American Diabetes Association and participate in CheckUp America by taking small steps for your health.