November is American Diabetes Month, and millions are taking action and raising awareness about the seriousness of the disease. You may not think about diabetes much; maybe it doesn't affect you personally. But consider this: Diabetes rates are double today what they were 20 years ago, and someone is diagnosed with the disease every 17 seconds. That's a frightening statistic.
Even more frightening is the actual number of children and adults with diabetes — 26 million. Another 79 million are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Pay attention now — diabetes may be closer than you think.
To take a stand against diabetes and for your health in the new year. You don't have to swear off pumpkin pie or start training for a marathon, either. A lot of change comes from simply knowing your risk factors and understanding your current health status.
1Get your eyes checked
Get a comprehensive eye exam every year. Because the eye provides the only non-invasive view of blood vessels in the body, eye doctors are often the first health care providers to see signs of chronic conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Find an eye doctor near you.
1Assess your personal risk
Take a diabetes risk assessment from the American Diabetes Association on Facebook. It's fast, easy and provides an indication of your risk for prediabetes or diabetes based on a number of different factors. There's even a tip sheet to help you lower your risk.
1Get moving — no excuses
Remember that exercise is important for everyone, even when it's cold outside. If you can't bear the cold, consider alternative exercise like power-walking at the mall. You can even knock out your holiday shopping while you're at it. Now that's motivation!
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