November is Diabetes Awareness Month - Recognize the Symptoms and Save A Life

County Executive Charlie A. Dooley

Salutes JDRF

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

 JDRF - formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – recently changed its name to better reflect the state of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the organization’s work, which remains committed to curing, treating, and preventing the disease. 

 JDRF removed the word “juvenile” from its name for two reasons. The disease is now known as type 1 diabetes, or T1D, not juvenile diabetes. T1D can strike at any age, and that 85 percent of people in the United States with the disease are adults—some who were diagnosed as children, and others who were diagnosed later in life. Half of all new cases of T1D are diagnosed in adults.

 There never is a vacation from T1D.  Insulin is a therapy.  It is not a cure. People with T1D need to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin (with injections or an insulin pump) multiple times every day, and carefully balance insulin doses with eating and daily activities throughout the day and night.   People with T1D are at greater risk for devastating complications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease and amputation. 

 JDRF is the leader in research for the treatment, cure and ultimate prevention of diabetes.  JDRF sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless.  If you have one or more of these diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right away.

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

Gestational Diabetes

• Frequent urination
• Unusual thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Extreme fatigue and Irritability