November is National Diabetes Month. This year’s focus is on taking action to prevent diabetes health problems.
According to the American Diabetes Association, over thirty-seven million people have diabetes, and one in five people don’t know they have diabetes. This November, over 116,000 Americans will be diagnosed with diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. If you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or utilize its insulin correctly, and too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, this can cause serious health problems like heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
What Are the Signs or Symptoms of Diabetes?
The most common symptoms of diabetes are:
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Slow healing wounds
- Pain and/or numbness in hands or feet
- Losing weight without trying
If you are experiencing some of these signs or symptoms, schedule an appointment with your provider to test your blood sugar.
How to Manage Diabetes
Managing diabetes soon after diagnosis can help prevent serious health problems. Here are tips to manage diabetes:
- Target 150 minutes per week of heart-healthy activity such as walking or exercising.
- Eat heart-healthy foods such as fruits and veggies and reduce red meat and salt.
- Don’t smoke. Smoking increases your risk of type 2 diabetes as well as many diabetic complications.
- Schedule an appointment with your care team. At CHAS Health, we offer visits with our care team to manage diabetes. A care team consists of providers, clinical pharmacists, dietitians, nurses, and medical assistants who work together to meet your health needs.
Visit chas.org for more information about diabetes care, and schedule an appointment with your care team.
