Statistics reveal that around eight million Americans have Type 2 diabetes but are unaware of their condition. Aside from the alarming numbers of undiagnosed diabetic patients, millions more are said to have pre-diabetes.
According to KTV Alaska, there are millions of individuals that does not know that they're suffering from diabetes. Dr Ross Tanner stated that as a doctor, he attends to thousands of patients every month in Alaska alone.
"It's about a ten-year ordeal from the time that you develop pre-diabetes to becoming a diabetic," Dr Tanner said in one of his interviews. "So if you can initiate treatment - whether it be behavior change like losing weight, exercise, maybe take some medications to prevent progression - then you are going to prevent the complications of diabetes."
Dr Tanner then cited the importance of having yourself checked for diabetes as it can possibly lead to major complications. Severe cases of diabetes include heart attacks, blindness, stroke, amputation, and even death. One of the best ways to prevent diabetes is to listen to your body and have a regular check-up.
For #DiabetesAlertDay it is also important to know the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes to avoid a medical emergency. Be Alert - See the Signs!https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/symptoms/
Posted by American Diabetes Association on Tuesday, 22 March 2016
Dr Tanner emphasized that prevention is always better than cure when it comes to diabetes as the complications can easily progress. He then added that people more than the age of 45 who are overweight and suffering from high blood pressure can easily acquire diabetes.
"If you exercise 30 minutes a day, five times a week and you lose 7% of your body weight in a short period of time you can reduce the risk of developing diabetes almost 60%, " Dr Tanner stated. "Not delaying the diabetes but from ever getting the diabetes.
Web Md listed a few symptoms that can lead to diabetes. The symptoms would usually surface once the body's glucose level would increase higher than the normal figures. Warning signs for Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be subtle that patients won't get to feel the changes until it reaches the latter stage.
