It’s commonly known as “the suga” but Diabetes is anything but sweet. Almost 26 million Americans have Diabetes and 7 million don’t even know they have it. Even scarier 79 million Americans are pre-diabetic, meaning they are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Testing for diabetes is especially important because early in the disease diabetes may have no symptoms.
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, so get your blood glucose level tested! Early testing helps health care providers not only find and treat diabetes before complications occur but also finds and treats prediabetes – which can delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes from developing. The best tests for diagnosis and control of diabetes are the blood glucose test, and the Hemoglobin A1C blood test. If you have diabetes keep your blood glucose controlled because, if blood glucose levels go uncontrolled, it can lead to complications that affect every part of the body from your brain to your toes. So stay healthy and keep your sugar in check!
Here’s a couple facts about diabetes we all should know:
- Exercise can actually increase your blood sugar? Check your sugar 30min before and immediately after workouts.
- Drinking alcohol even 2oz can cause dangerously low blood glucose levels in a diabetic person.
- High glucose levels can prevent you from “getting it up” in the bedroom.
- Obesity is the #1 risk factor for diabetes.
- 79 million people in the US have prediabetes and are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
- Having a family member with Type 2 diabetes increases YOUR risk of diabetes.
- Infected gums can lead to bacteria in the bloodstream and can damage heart. Visit your dentist every 6 months.
- Numbers don’t lie – HgbA1c levels reflect blood glucose control over the past 3 months. If you have diabetes aim to keep your HbgA1c < 7.
Wishing you great health
Dr. V