It’s National Diabetes Awareness month and AFC Urgent Care Malden is here to educate you about the dangers of developing diabetes. Trust us, this is a health condition you want to avoid.
Diabetes affects more than millions of people in the United States every day. The disease affects the production of insulin in your body and may lead to sugar build up in your blood. If not managed it may also damage nerves, blood vessels, the heart and the kidneys.
Without further ado, here’s a guide about the disease, risk factors, symptoms and prevention.
There are three “types” of Diabetes
Yes, you read that correctly. Diabetes has more than one type.
There are 3 main types of diabetes, including Types 1, 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 2 is the most common diabetes that affects adults later in age, but can be easily influenced by lifestyle choices like poor diet, smoking and lack of exercise. People who have a family history can also increase the risk of developing diabetes.
Who is at risk for developing diabetes?
If you answered yes to the question ‘Do you have a family history of diabetes?’ then your risk for diabetes significantly rises.
- 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
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Did you know that more than 88 million U.S adults have prediabetes, and 84% of them don’t know they have it? It’s important to be aware of the warning signs and symptoms before it’s too late.
- 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
How can I avoid developing diabetes?
Don’t become another diabetes statistic. As the disease can often lead to other health complications like heart disease, kidney failure and nerve damage, to name just a few, it is in everyone's best interest to take preventative care now before it becomes harder to manage.
This year, we encourage everyone to get checked for diabetes by having routine blood work done to check sugar levels. An A1C test can help you determine where your blood sugar levels are at. From there you can speak with your doctor, or one of our providers, about prevention, or if necessary, to be referred to a diabetes specialist.
AFC Urgent Care Malden is here to help you reduce your chances of developing diabetes
Are you borderline diabetic? Do you have a family member who is? Stop into our AFC Urgent Care center in Malden where you can get screened and have your blood sugar levels checked with no appointment needed.
If you have high blood sugar levels, a lifestyle change may be in order to get your blood sugar levels in check. This can include dietary changes, more exercise and more blood monitoring. If you already have the disease, know that there are still management tools to help you stay on track both mentally and physically.
AFC in Malden, MA is here for you 7 days a week with no appointment needed from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-5pm weekends. We’ll check you in, check you out and check those blood sugar levels!
