the blood sugar battle

Over 30 million Americans, or close to 10 percent of the population, currently have diabetes, with over 1.5 million new cases diagnosed annually. Diabetes was ranked as the seventh leading cause of death in 2015, with over 250,000 deaths being linked to the disease and costing the nation $327 billion in medical costs and reduced productivity. The symptoms of both type I and type II diabetes can be similar and often so mild they go undetected. These include frequent urination, feeling hungry or thirsty often, fatigue, blurry vision, cuts or bruises that are slow to heal, weight loss even though you’re eating more (type 1) and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet (type 2). Early detection is key to successful treatment and management. Although type 1 diabetes is a condition that patients primarily develop in early childhood, type II diabetes can be avoided in many cases with lifestyle choices.

These include:

1. Getting plenty of physical activity

2. Eating enough fiber and whole grains

3. Losing excess weight

4. Avoiding diet fads and eating a variety of food from the di erent food groups

For more information on diabetes diagnosis and prevention, visit the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org