It’s also the start of the holiday season. The holidays are known to be especially difficult times for diabetics, and a time when incidents of diabetic related health problems skyrocket. Here at AFC Urgent Care Worcester, diabetes awareness around the holidays is especially important. Diabetes is one of the top 3 killers in the U.S. today. As of 2014, the National Diabetes Association statistics show that in the U.S alone, over 29 million people, or 9.3% of the U.S. population suffer from diabetes, and it is estimated that of those 29 million, almost 28% of those are undiagnosed, which explains why is diabetes has been named the ‘silent killer’. Health experts predict that we are inching up to diabetes affecting 33.3% of the U.S population, a staggering number.

Untreated diabetes can often have devastating and long range effects. When diagnosed and treated at an early stage however, diabetes is treatable and manageable. Most of the treatment is lifestyle related, consisting of maintaining a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating right, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption. In some cases, an oral diabetes medication is used to control insulin levels as well.

Knowing the Symptoms of Diabetes:

The most common symptoms of diabetes include;

–blurred vision

-weight loss

-increased thirst and urination

-nerve pain

-numbness in hands or feet

When not treated early on, complications can include: severe kidney problems leading to possible dialysis, premature heart attacks or strokes, cuts and infections that can lead to amputation, severe nerve damage that can do the same. On average, a person with diabetes has a life span 10 to 15 years less than a person without diabetes.

If you or a loved one is unsure or experiencing any of the above symptoms, please come see us at our Worcester Urgent Care Center or visit your primary doctor where an A1C screening can be performed. We are open 7 days a week from 8am-8pm weekdays, 8am-5pm weekends, no appointment needed.