November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and this year, the theme is 'We Stand Greater Than Diabetes.' Diabetes is a disease that impacts more than 34 million people in the United States and one in five Americans don't know they have it.
Diabetes happens when your body can't control blood sugar levels. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
Diabetes types one and two are the most common and nine out of 10 patients are diagnosed with type two. That is where your body doesn't produce enough insulin or use it correctly and is unable to keep blood sugar at normal levels. With type one, previously called juvenile diabetes, your body makes little to no insulin.
While there is not a cure for diabetes yet, you can stay healthy by managing your lifestyle. A person can lower their chances of developing type two diabetes by losing weight, maintaining regular physical activity and following a healthy diet. Keep an eye on possible symptoms like frequent urination, excessive thirst and slow healing wounds.
People with diabetes are at higher risk for serious health complications such as heart disease and stroke.
