Tuesday, March 26, 2019
On Diabetes Alert Day, March 26, take time to consider your diabetes risk
Many people do not realize they are at risk for developing diabetes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Diabetes affects about 30.3 million Americans or about 9.4 percent of the U.S. population.
- Nearly 1 in 4 adults living with diabetes, or 7.2 million Americans, have diabetes and don’t know it.
- Another 84 million Americans have prediabetes, with blood glucose levels higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Left untreated, it will advance to diabetes within five years.
- Nine out of 10 adults with prediabetes don’t know they have it.
Take your diabetes risk seriously
People with diabetes - a chronic, metabolic disorder - are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke as people without diabetes - and at an earlier age. Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease, lower-limb amputations and adult-onset blindness.
“Type 2 diabetes can usually be prevented through healthy eating and moderate physical activity. We support those at risk, and those diagnosed, in altering their diet, incorporating more activity and making other lifestyle changes,” said Alicia Jackson, manager, Diabetes Program, Beaumont Community Health and Outreach. “Each time we help people to find the road to good health, we are inspired by their dedication and hard work.”
For people who wish to lower their risk of developing diabetes or who have diabetes, Beaumont offers a variety of resources, including "the Diabetes episode on the Beaumont HouseCall Podcast with endocrinologist Michael Brennan, D.O.