November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes is on the rise in Missouri, but many people with the disease don't know they have it. Educating people about the disease is the goal of National Diabetes Awareness Month, observed annually in November.
Nearly 300,000 adults in Missouri - almost seven percent of the population aged 18 or older - have been diagnosed with diabetes, but about one-third of all people with the disease are unaware of their condition according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. That means thousands of Missourians of all ages are not protecting themselves from the dangers of diabetes.
"Diabetes is a life-threatening illness that can lead to many serious conditions including kidney failure, blindness, amputations, cardiovascular disease, and death due to flu and pnuemonia complications," Jo Anderson, program coordinator for the department's Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. "Because diabetes is increasing, it is more important than ever to learn about the disease and how to control it."
Missouri has seen a 29 percent increase in diabetes since 1988, based on estimates from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 17,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Some people with diabetes will not experience any symptoms while others will have one or more of the following:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme hunger
• Sudden vision changes
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Feeling tired much of the time
• Very dry skin
• Sores that are slow to heal
• More infections than usual

Diabetes is a chronic disease of the endocrine system that results in high blood glucose levels. There are three main types of diabetes: type1, formerly known as insulin dependent or juvenile onset diabetes; type 2, formerly known as non-insulin dependent or adult onset diabetes; and gestational diabetes, which develops in up to five percent of all pregnant women and increases the risk of later developing type 2 diabetes.
There are no known methods to prevent type 1 diabetes. Most people with diabetes have type 2, which often can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes, including eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and participating in daily physical exercise. Because studies show a dramatic link between diabetes and heart disease, avoiding tobacco use and taking medications as prescribed are also important for controlling blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol. 
People with diabetes also should get an A1C test two to four times a year. The test measures a person's average blood glucose level during approximately the past 90 days. A physician will determine the frequency of this test based on how well a person's diabetes is controlled. Individuals with diabetes also should get a flu shot, comprehensive foot exam, and dilated eye exam every year. In addition, they should get at least one pneumococcal immunization to help prevent pneumonia.
"Lifestyle choices are critical to treating and living with diabetes," Anderson said. "With proper management, many serious complications can be avoided or detected early, and people can live longer and healthier lives."
For more information about diabetes, contact the Missouri Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at 1-800-316-0935 or visit the website at: www.dhss.mo.gov/diabetes/. You can also contact the Diabetes Center at the Mississippi County Health Department at 573-683-2191. The health department offers free diabetes education and other diabetes related services