By Staff
People used to laugh about my line-up of drinks on my desk when I worked at the Penny Saver Times in South Bend, Ind.
It seemed I was always thirsty.
There were probably other signs, too, I just never really related them to the fact I might have a disease – namely diabetes.
With poor eyesight to begin with, a history of leg and foot pain and many overweight family members, any of these other symptoms may have indicated a tendency to diabetes, but were also ignored.
Tuesday, March 25, is the 20th annual American Diabetes Alert Day.
Every day we listen to the scanner sending out emergency help, most often adding that the patient has diabetes.
Diabetes isn't just one simple disease. It affects so many parts of the body, with damage possible to your heart, kidneys, eyes and more.
This annual call to action for Americans to learn their risk of developing diabetes, supported by the American Diabetes Association, is also being publicized by Lakeland HealthCare.
Across the country, diabetes affects nearly 21 million children and adults, according to the American Diabetes Association.
The main problem is, the large number of people who, like I was, are living with diabetes and do not know it.
During the time you are not under a doctor's care, many parts of your body could be damaged.
The American Diabetes Association estimates more than 6 million of those with diabetes do not know they have the disease.
Early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease and stroke.
Lakeland HealthCare encourages anyone who would like to know their risk of being affected by this disease to visit www.diabetes.org to take a simple online test from the American Diabetes Association.
The Diabetes Risk Test requires users to answer seven simple questions about weight, age, lifestyle and family history – all potential risk factors for diabetes. People determined to have a high risk for developing diabetes are urged to see a health care professional for further evaluation.
Lakeland and other area hospitals, offer free pre-diabetes classes in both, which are designed for anyone with higher-than-normal blood sugar levels and at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. This program does not require a physician referral and helps area residents change their lifestyle to delay – or avoid – the onset of diabetes.
If you already know you have diabetes, there are also self-management education classes with registered nurses and dietitians teaching self-management, complete with meal planning to improve blood sugar control and reduce the risk of complications.
I was lucky, I never needed to give myself shots, though Roger does so daily without any problem.
The pills I was on once a day for a few years have been stopped and I just monitor my blood sugar myself and also have the monthly blood test to discover my average over that period.
For more information on programs offered by Lakeland Diabetes Education or to register for classes, call (269) 927-5465 or 683-5510, ext. 5465, or visit www.lakelandhealth.org.
Do not wait until you have damage that cannot be repaired.