Take Time to Learn About Diabetes
November is American Diabetes Month. Almost 24 million Americans have diabetes, a serious disease in which blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are too high.
At one time, type 2 diabetes was more common in people over age 45. But now more young people, even children, have the disease because many are overweight or obese.
If not well managed, diabetes can lead to problems such as heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, and nerve damage.
Types of Diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes - the body does not make insulin. Insulin helps the body use glucose from food for energy. People with type 1 need to take insulin every day.
- Type 2 diabetes - the body does not make or use insulin well. People with type 2 often need to take pills or insulin. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes - may occur when a woman is pregnant. Gestational diabetes raises her risk of getting another type of diabetes, mostly type 2, for the rest of her life. It also raises her child’s risk of being overweight and getting diabetes.
Pre-diabetes is when a person's blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with prediabetes are 5-15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than are people with normal blood glucose levels. Studies show that people at high risk for diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their weight, if they are overweight—that’s 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person.
Learn about the risk factors for diabetes.
Get Screened
- Talk to your health care provider about having your blood glucose level checked.
- Call the Central Ohio Diabetes Association at (614) 884-4400 or 1-800-422-7946 for a site near you.
- Get a blood glucose screening at any Columbus City Fire Station any day of the week, 24 hours a day.
You Can Prevent or Control Diabetes
Whether you just found out you have diabetes or have been dealing with it for years, you can control your diabetes and live a long, active life. If you are at risk or have pre-diabetes, you can take small steps to prevent the disease. Learn more at the National Diabetes Education Program.
For More Information
Sources: National Diabetes Education Program and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.