American Diabetes Month: Don't Be 1 in 3

November is American Diabetes Month – and the statistics for this chronic condition are startling.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 3 people will develop diabetes. Medical costs are twice as high for those with diabetes and, for adults, the risk of death is 50% higher.  In the United States, 29 million people have diabetes, and yet 1 out of 4 don’t know they have it.

The three main types of diabetes are:

• Type 1 – your body is not producing needed insulin, so you need to have insulin added.  (Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.)
• Type 2 – your body doesn’t use insulin well and is unable to keep blood sugar at normal levels. (Nine out of ten people with diabetes have type 2.)

• Gestational – you have diabetes while pregnant.

Do you have diabetes and not know it?  Are you at risk?

Risk factors include:

• Weight (being overweight is a significant factor)
• Age (45 years or older)
• Family history of type 2 diabetes
• Little or no physical activity (less than 3x a week)
• Previously having gestational diabetes or giving birth to an infant weighing more than 9 pounds

Given these risk factors, it’s easy to see that for many, diabetes is a preventable disease.  The CDC gives lifestyle change suggestions that could save your life:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Be physically active
• Take medications as prescribed
• Keep health care appointments

At Greene County Medical Center, there are many approaches to helping you with diabetes diagnosis and treatment:

• Our full services laboratory offers monthly wellness screenings that can identify potential risks, including your glucose (blood sugar) levels.
• Our diabetes management staff can help you with counseling/education; make recommendations to control blood sugars; and help you manage other risk factors that could lead to other complications like heart disease, blindness, or kidney disease.
• Providers at the adjoining UnityPoint Clinic can help you understand lab results and provide recommendations for diabetes prevention or management. 

Diabetes is a significant factor in the health of so many Americans.  Don’t be one who ignores the opportunity to be tested, educated or treated.

There isn’t a better time than during American Diabetes Month to get started.  Call our diabetes management staff today at 515-386-0469 and learn about how we can facilitate your diabetes care.