Today is Diabetes Alert Day, your opportunity to check your own risks for diabetes and alert others as well. Diabetes affects millions and millions (and millions) of people in the U.S. and in the world. Knowing the signs, reducing the risks, and being aware can help everyone.
Type 1 diabetes: an autoimmune disease where the immune system mounts an attack on the pancreas cells that produce insulin. Signs/symptoms include fatigue, extreme thirst, losing weight without trying, frequent urination (peeing), hunger, moodiness, dry mouth, vomiting, labored breathing, or even loss of consciousness. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age. While there’s no way to lower one’s risk for type 1 diabetes, it is important to know what to look for. Catching it early could help someone get care sooner and may even allow someone to take part in research studies.
Type 2 diabetes: at least eight factors contribute to one’s risk for type 2 diabetes. Genetics plays a huge role in type 2 diabetes. If any of your family members have type 2 diabetes, get checked! If you gave birth to a large baby (more than 9 pounds), get checked! If you have slow-healing wounds or tend to get infections easily, get checked! The American Diabetes Association has a type 2 diabetes risk test you can take. While there is no guarantee that type 2 diabetes can be prevented, it is possible to lower your risk and possibly even delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Being informed and aware is the first step.
Diabetes alert day – take it seriously!