Understanding some of the more common diabetes facts is critical to generating awareness and helping with prevention. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t familiar with these facts, which is why November is National Diabetes Month. Hopefully, by spreading awareness of the following diabetes facts, people take greater care when it comes to preventing and treating diabetes.

Diabetes Facts You Should Know

The following are a few important diabetes facts that everybody should be aware of, as reported by the CDC  in 2020:

• Over 34 million Americans have diabetes, accounting for more than 10% of the population.
  
• Of these 34 million people, only 26.9 million have been officially diagnosed. An estimated 7.3 million people are undiagnosed, which accounts for 21.4% of all cases.
  
• A massive 88 million Americans over the age of 18, which accounts for 34.5% of the adult population, have prediabetes. Prediabetes means that your blood sugar levels are higher than normal and that you’re at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
  
• An estimated one out of every three Americans will develop diabetes at some point in their lives.

Understanding the Risk of Developing Diabetes

At-risk individuals should be particularly careful about their health and should consult with a doctor regularly to do everything they can to prevent diabetes. Risk factors include:

• Being older than 45
• Being overweight
• Not being physically active
• Having a family history of diabetes

Can Diabetes Be Prevented?

By understanding the risk factors, you can make changes to your lifestyle to help prevent diabetes. But even if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you can take steps to better manage it. These steps include:

• Take any medications as prescribed by your doctor
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Getting at least 10 to 20 minutes of exercise in every day
• Eating a healthier diet with less sugar and salt
• Testing your blood sugar regularly

Knowing about diabetes can help you take preventative steps. If you think you might have diabetes, be sure to speak with your doctor in California. For more diabetes facts and health tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today.