NOVEMBER IS DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose (sugar) for our bodies to use as energy. The pancreas, an organ near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in your blood.

Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and amputations. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of diabetes cases and is associated with obesity.

How do you reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes? You guessed it! With moderate physical activity, eating healthy (low fat & high fiber diet) and maintaining a healthy weight.

Are you at risk? Take this quiz from the American Diabetes Association to find out.

This information is provided by www.diabetes.org.