November is National Diabetes Month

November is National Diabetes Month. According to the Centers Disease Control and Prevention, 29 million Americans have diabetes and 1 in 4 don’t know. These numbers are hard to see, but they are true. In honor of National Diabetes Month, our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks would like to bring more awareness to diabetes. Central Ozarks Medical Center is here to give you some important information regarding diabetes, including more diabetes statistics and some key symptoms that could show someone might have diabetes.

Important Diabetes Statistics

Source: Centers Disease Control and Prevention

Key findings from the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014 (based on health data from 2012), include:

29 million people in the United States (9.3 percent) have diabetes.
1.7 million people aged 20 years or older were newly diagnosed with diabetes in 2012.
Non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native adults are about twice as likely to have diagnosed diabetes as non-Hispanic white adults.
208,000 people younger than 20 years have been diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 or type 2).
86 million adults aged 20 years and older have prediabetes.
The percentage of U.S. adults with prediabetes is similar for non-Hispanic whites (35 percent), non-Hispanic blacks (39 percent), and Hispanics (38 percent).

Diabetes is a serious disease that can be managed through physical activity, diet, and appropriate use of insulin and oral medications to lower blood sugar levels. Another important part of diabetes management is reducing other cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and tobacco use.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Before we give the symptoms of diabetes, we must first distinguish a difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes, otherwise known as juvenile diabetes, can’t produce insulin. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to use insulin the right way, which can lead to an insulin deficiency.

Source: American Heart Association

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

Blurred vision
Unusual weight loss
Increased urination
Increased fatigue
Increased appetite
In certain cases, there are no symptoms
Fruity breath or odor

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Sores that won’t heal
In certain cases, no symptoms
Fatigue
Increased appetite
Increased thirst
Weight loss
Blurred vision
Increased urination, especially at night

Central Ozarks Medical Center, Leading the Way to Healthier Communities

We here at our Mid-Missouri health clinics strive to increase access to comprehensive primary and preventative health care and to improve the healthcare status of underserved and vulnerable populations in Camden, Laclede, Miller and Pulaski Counties. We believe in providing quality healthcare to patients with or without health insurance. We offer a sliding fee scale based on family size and income. We offer a wide variety of services and have been providing quality healthcare in Missouri since 1979. To schedule an appointment, call one of our locations listed below.

Central Ozarks Medical Center

Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare