Hendrick celebrates American Diabetes Alert Day, March 26

The fourth Tuesday of every March is designated as American Diabetes Alert Day by the American Diabetes Association. With approximately 30 million Americans diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each year, and seven million of those unaware they have this condition, Hendrick Health encourages individuals to find out if they are at risk and ways to reduce those risks.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes usually does not appear suddenly. Instead, a person may have no noticeable symptoms or only mild symptoms for years, making the awareness of risk factors that much more important.

Unfortunately, some risk factors cannot be changed. However, simple lifestyle changes can reduce these modifiable risk factors. Being aware of the non-modifiable risk factors, can help individuals manage and/or lower the risks.

Non-modifiable risk factors include:

• Age
• Family history
• Race and ethnicity
• Medical history

Modifiable risk factors include:

• Weight
• Activity level
• Smoking
• Eating habits

Oftentimes, individuals with type 2 diabetes may not experience any symptoms or they may be too mild to notice.

Symptoms may include:

• Excess thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Extreme weakness and fatigue
• Dry, itchy skin
• Slow healing of skin
• Tingling or loss of feeling in the hands or feet

The Diabetes Risk Test is an online tool to help individuals determine the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Click here to take the test.

To learn more about Hendrick Diabetes Center, please call 325-670-2421 or ehendrick.org/diabetes.