Each year in November, National Diabetes Month is observed to raise awareness of the disease and encourage individuals to speak with their health care providers about their potential risk.
Incoming Chautauqua County Congressman Tom Reed – who is vice chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus – is reminding residents it is important that we not limit our focus of diabetes to the month of November, but make a commitment to raise awareness of this ever-growing disease each month of the year. Reed has a Teenage son who has diabetes.
Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes and an additional 79 million have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The primary risk factors for type 2 diabetes include being overweight, sedentary, over the age of 45 and having a family history of diabetes. The symptoms of diabetes can include frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue and irritability, frequent infections, blurred vision, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, and recurring skin, gum or bladder infections.
For more information on diabetes, and ways to get involved during National Diabetes Month, please visit the American Diabetes Association at http://www.diabetes.org.
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