November is Diabetes Awareness Month
Diabetes
is a serious disease. Recent estimates project that as many as one in three
American adults will have diabetes in 2050, and an additional 79 million
Americans are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If it isn’t managed,
it can damage many parts of the body, leading to heart attacks, strokes,
amputation, blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage. But there is good news: diabetes
complications can be prevented or delayed by properly managing blood glucose,
blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Eating healthy, being physically active and quitting smoking also can
help lower the risk of diabetes complications.
Diabetes often
goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless.
Recent
studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms
and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications
of diabetes. Here are symptoms to look for:
Type
1 Diabetes (diagnosed in children and young adults):
Frequent urination; unusual thirst;
extreme hunger; unusual weight loss; extreme fatigue and Irritability
Type
2 Diabetes: Any
of the type 1 symptoms; frequent infections; blurred vision; cuts/bruises that
are slow to heal; tingling/numbness in the hands/feet; recurring skin, gum, or
bladder infections
Gestational
Diabetes (pregnancy induced): Frequent
urination; unusual thirst; extreme hunger; unusual weight loss; extreme fatigue
and Irritability
If
you have one or more of these diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right
away.
Peace in Christ,
~Beth Olejniczak RN, PN
Parish Nurse
Valparaiso, IN
