November is National Diabetes Month. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that affects 8.3% of the US population, with almost 2 million new cases diagnosed annually. Another 79 million adult Americans have prediabetes.
Numerous complications are associated with diabetes, including high blood pressure, heart attack and kidney disease. Diabetes can lead to blindness and amputation. Untreated, a person with extremely high blood sugar can go into a diabetic coma. Scary stuff.
One important part of awareness is understanding the different types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects about 5% of people who have been diagnosed with diabetes. The other 90 to 95% of cases are typically type 2. Type 1, an autoimmune disease, is treated with insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes, though, is often brought on due to age, obestiy and inactivity. The symptoms and warning signs include extreme thirst, frequent urination, rapid weight loss, and fatigue.
The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be treated and prevented. As more people become aware of the importance of staying physically active and eating a sensible diet, fewer people will have to deal with diabetes.