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November is National Diabetes Awareness Month
STILLWATER, Okla. - Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Research indicates that diabetes is a big contributor to major health problems such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, high blood pressure, kidney disease and amputations.
“Some factors that may increase the risk of developing diabetes include being 40 years of age or older, being a member of a high-risk ethnic group (African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian American or Pacific Islander), being overweight, having high blood pressure, having a family history of diabetes, being a woman who had diabetes during pregnancy or being a woman who had a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth,” Hermann said.
According to the American Diabetic Association, millions of Americans have diabetes but do not realize it.
“Type 2 diabetes is a silent disease. There are a great number of people out there who don’t even realize they have it. Others discover it only after seeking medical help for one of its many complications,” she said. “By the time some people are diagnosed with diabetes, damage to the arteries, eyes, nerves and kidneys may have been going on for up to 10 years.”
The ADA recommends everyone aged 40 and older should be tested for diabetes every three years. Individuals who are at a higher risk of developing diabetes should be tested at a younger age.
In addition to the increased number of cases of diabetes, the incidence of obesity also has dramatically increased over the past 30 years. The increase in obesity may have a major impact on the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the future.
“Obesity is a major contributor to the development of type 2 diabetes and there is a delay between the onset of obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes,” Hermann said. “Therefore, indications are that a further increase in the occurrence of diabetes is expected in the future. If you have a family history of diabetes, or fall into the categories that increase the chances of developing the disease, it’s a good idea to talk to your health professional.”
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Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and
Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national
origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an
equal opportunity employer.
Trisha Gedon
Communications
Specialist
Agricultural
Communications Services
136 Agriculture
North
Oklahoma State
University
Stillwater,
OK 74078
405-744-3625
(phone)
405-744-5739
(fax)
trisha.gedon@okstate.edu
