It’s American Diabetes Awareness Month and it’s time to take diabetes to heart! Millions of people are affected by this chronic health condition and there are millions who are not aware of the symptoms and signs that could lead to one of the more serious types of diabetes.
Our message this holiday season is to not become another statistic! And yes, we are talking to pre diabetics who are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes as well. Your numbers are higher than the number of people diagnosed with diabetes. It is important to learn more about the disease so that you can seek help if symptoms do arise and so that you can take the necessary steps to prevent it. AFC Urgent Care Danbury is here to educate you about diabetes and offers a1c tests to help you monitor your blood sugar levels.
Statistics on American Diabetes Month
The numbers don’t lie and every year there is always updated information on the disease and people affected by diabetes and its different types. A study on Diabetes in the United States from the CDC show that:
- Prevalence: In 2019, 37.3 million Americans, or 11.3% of the population, had diabetes.
- Nearly 1.9 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, including about 244,000 children and adolescents
- Diagnosed and undiagnosed: Of the 37.3 million adults with diabetes, 28.7 million were diagnosed, and 8.5 million were undiagnosed.
- Prevalence in seniors: The percentage of Americans age 65 and older remains high, at 29.2%, or 15.9 million seniors (diagnosed and undiagnosed).
- New cases: 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year.
- Prediabetes: In 2019, 96 million Americans age 18 and older had prediabetes.
- In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population has aged, eaten poorly and/or become more overweight or obese.
- People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke than people without.
Looking at these numbers can be alarming, especially when we see the population who have prediabetes. People with prediabetes have elevated blood sugar levels, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. You or your loved ones may fit that population of being prediabetic and it is important to get your blood sugar levels checked regularly as diabetes can affect anyone at any age.
Know the symptoms and risk factors of diabetes
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms you may be at risk for developing prediabetes and one of the few types of diabetes.
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased hunger
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
- Sores that do not heal
- Unexplained weight loss
- Have prediabetes
- Are overweight
- Are 45 years or older
- Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
- Are physically active less than 3 times a week
- Have ever had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
- Have high blood pressure or take medicine for high blood pressure
- Have high cholesterol blood levels
If left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to other health complications
This year's National Diabetes Awareness Month's main focus is on the link between the disease and cardiovascular disease. Having diabetes raises your risk for developing other dangerous conditions such as:
- Heart disease
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Nerve damage
- Eye problems
Your lifestyle can say a lot about your physical health. If you also smoke you’re increasing your risk of developing one or more of these other health complications. This is because smoking narrows blood vessels, which makes it harder for your heart to function as it should.
If you’re pregnant you may be at risk for gestational diabetes
Gestational Diabetes can affect both the mother and child during and after pregnancy. During the final trimester a woman is at risk of developing gestational diabetes due to an increase in hormones. It’s important during this time to make sure you protect your newborn from developing diabetes by managing it with a doctor beforehand. If you do develop gestational diabetes you still have a chance to prevent yourself from developing type 2 diabetes down the road. In addition, protecting your child now will prevent them from developing diabetes early on in their lives as well.
AFC Urgent Care Danbury can help screen you for diabetes and check your blood sugar levels
At AFC Urgent Care Danbury we will not only check your blood sugar levels but will help answer any questions and will point you in the right direction for management and prevention of diabetes.
You can walk right in, or make an appointment online, to see us at any of our Danbury AFC clinics. We are located at 2 Main Street, 100 Mill Plain Road, and 76c Newtown Road. All 3 of our locations are open 7 days a week and ready to treat you. We accept most insurances.
