Diabetes Alert Day
People who are diagnosed with diabetes have an increased risk for developing heart disease, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, and nervous system damage among many other serious health conditions.
The American Diabetes Association Alert Day is an attempt to get the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test. This test determines if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and takes less than one minute to finish.
While type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children/adolescents due to the production of little or no insulin; type 2 diabetes occurs later in adulthood. With type 2 diabetes being the most common, it’s important to understand the risk factors so that you can can take precautions for yourself and loved ones.
Family history and genetics play a big role in determining whether you are at risk for type 2 diabetes. The following factors, however, play the biggest role for increasing your chances for type 2:
- Low activity level
- Poor diet (not consisting of vegetables and fruits)
- Excess body weight around the waist
If you discover that you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Only your doctor can diagnose you with type 2 diabetes or tell you if you have pre-diabetes.
Don’t have a primary care doctor? Here is a list of all the Duke primary care locations.
Alliance Medical Ministry also serves working uninsured adults in Wake County through primary care and acute care services.
Reduce Your Risk
The American Diabetes Association offers helpful tips when it comes to reducing your chances. With everything from healthy recipes to at-home-exercises, these resources will help you set goals and reach them in a realistic time frame.
Learn more about our services by visiting the Duke Raleigh Diabetes Center.
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