What to Know During American Diabetes Month

diabetes doctor near me, how to prevent diabetes, how is diabetes treated, geriatric medicine Atlanta GA, medical practice near me,November is American Diabetes Month. We know this won’t come as breaking news to too many people, but it’s a fact that diabetes is one of the most common health conditions facing American adults and children. However, the extent to which diabetes affects people in the US may still come as a surprise. To help our readers gain a better understanding of the prevalence and effects of diabetes, our healthcare providers wanted to take some time to provide some enlightening statistics on the subject.

  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 30 million Americans (or nearly 10% of the US population) are living with diabetes.
  • This includes children born with type 1 diabetes and those who develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
  • Of those 30 million people with diabetes, over 7 million cases remain undiagnosed.
  • About 1.5 million people in the US are diagnosed with diabetes each year.
  • Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US annually.
  • It is also the most common cause of other serious health events including kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and adult blindness.
  • In a disturbing trend, the rate of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled over the last 20 years.
  • Over 84 million American adults (or roughly 1 in 3) have prediabetes, a condition in which high blood sugar levels greatly increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes as well as heart disease and stroke.
  • Diabetes risk increases with age. Over 25% of Americans age 65 and older are living with diabetes.

The good news is that with proper medical care, diabetes and its symptoms can be managed. Additionally, prediabetes can be reversed by making healthy adjustments to your lifestyle including eating a healthier diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and drinking of plenty of water every day. It’s important to visit your healthcare provider for annual check-up appointments to make sure that you are healthy and be aware of any potential issues before they become serious. For more information on diabetes or to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.