Are you among the 6.2 million people in the U.S. who have diabetes but don't know it? I ask because an estimated one-third of the almost 21 million Americans who have this cruel disease don't even know it.
Since 90 percent to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 (adult onset) diabetes, chances are you can avoid becoming a statistic. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is a preventable disease.
If you've ever wondered whether you have diabetes, now's your chance to find out — November is American Diabetes Month. First, take a moment to look at the following risk factors:
- Age 45 years or older
- Overweight
- Physical inactivity
- Family history of diabetes (parents or siblings)
- African-American, Native American, Latino, Asian-American, or Pacific Islander ethnicity
- History of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- High blood pressure
- High triglycerides (greater than 250 mg/dL) or low HDL cholesterol (less than 35 mg/dL)
If you haven't been screened for diabetes in the past year, or if you have two or more of these risk factors, you need to ask your doctor to test you for diabetes.
There is also a quick and simple online test you can take on the Web site of the American Diabetes Association. If you score 10 points or more on this ADA test, then you are at risk and should be tested as soon as possible.
Make a pledge this November to find out where you stand with diabetes.
