November Is American Diabetes Month

November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country team up to bring attention, to raise awareness, and to improve understanding of diabetes among people with diabetes as well as those who provide care to them.

Did you know that more than 30 million adults and children – that’s one in 10 people – in the United States has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and another 85 million Americans are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes? Less than ten percent of all adult diabetes cases diagnosed each year is type 1 diabetes. People who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes can lower their risk if they make healthy changes. Examples of healthy changes include eating healthy, getting more physical activity, and losing weight.

Learn more about what you can do to help those with diabetes live a healthy life.

  • Encourage people to make small changes, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
  • Talk to people in your community about getting regular checkups, including getting their blood pressure, and cholesterol checked.
  • Ask doctors and nurses to be leaders in their communities by speaking about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.

Did you know that adults with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease or stroke as people without diabetes? The good news is that the steps you take to manage your diabetes can also help lower your chances of having heart disease or a stroke.

For more information and resources about diabetes management, Dr. Jeffrey Sterling, MD, encourages you to speak with your family doctor to learn more about what you can do to keep yourself healthy.