November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in our country. Health experts believe that unless we take dramatic steps to change our lifestyles, one in three adults will have diabetes by the year 2050. Currently, 26 million adults and children live with diabetes. Estimates are that another 79 million are at risk for developing Type II diabetes. The consequences of diabetes are staggering both in terms of personal health and financial resources.

On the personal level, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure and of new cases of blindness. People who are diabetic are ten times more likely to need an amputation. Two out of three diabetics will die of heart disease or stroke.

The financial costs for caring for people with diabetes are high and climbing higher every day. Currently, one in every five dollars spent on health care is for someone who is diabetic. National estimates are that $174 billion is spent on the direct and indirect costs of diabetes.

For National Diabetes Month in November, the American Diabetes Association is trying to help the general public understand what it is like to live with this disease. They have launched, “A Day in the Life of Diabetes” on their Facebook page. The social project invites those living diabetes to post their story and photos to help raise awareness. You can visit their page to see what it is like to try to manage diabetes or post your own story if you are diabetic.

How Can You Prevent Diabetes?

There are a few simple steps you can take to cut your risk for Type II Diabetes:

• Maintain a healthy weight and lose weight if you need to
• Get at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week
• Keep your cholesterol in check
• Stop smoking

If you want to assess your risk for developing diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has a simple test you can take for free online by clicking here: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/diabetes-risk-test/.