What You Should Know About Diabetes | AFC Urgent Care Memphis

It’s November! And you know what that means? No, not Thanksgiving, but the start of National Diabetes Awareness Month.

Did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100 million people living in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes?

It’s a common medical condition among Americans, and that’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care Memphis wants to share some info about the condition.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition in which a person’s body is unable to produce or respond to the hormone insulin. Therefore, glucose levels in the person’s blood and urine are elevated, which results in the abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates.

There are a few different types of diabetes, including:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Pre-diabetes
  • Gestational diabetes

Type 1 diabetes has a genetic component and is often diagnosed in youth, while Type 2 diabetes has traditionally been diagnosed in adults. However, in recent years, due to a rise in obesity among youth, the condition is increasingly being diagnosed in younger people, too.

What Are the Signs of Diabetes?

If a person has diabetes, he or she may experience:

  • Excessive thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Blurred vision

Who Is At Risk?

While anyone can be at risk for diabetes, some groups are at a higher risk than others.

If you are overweight or obese, live a sedentary lifestyle, or had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, you are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

There are some risk factors you can’t change, like family medical history. But many risk factors for diabetes can be changed—it’s largely a preventable disease.

How Can You Prevent Diabetes?

You can take steps today that will help you prevent diabetes now and in the future:

  • Limit your sugar intake.
  • Work out regularly.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Quit smoking.
  • Eat a high-fiber diet.

Do you feel some of your symptoms might be pointing to diabetes? Visit AFC Urgent Care Memphis today to get your blood sugar checked.