Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to blindness, heart disease, strokes, kidney failure, and amputations. It kills almost 210,000 people each year.

 

 

Who can get diabetes?

 

Anyone can get diabetes. However, there are certain factors that can make you more at risk for diabetes. People who have close relatives with the disease are somewhat more likely to develop it. The risk of developing diabetes also increases as people grow older. People who are over 40 and overweight are more likely to develop diabetes. So are people of African-American, Hispanic or Asian heritage. Also, women who develop diabetes while pregnant are more likely to develop other types of diabetes later in life.

 

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

While severity of symptoms can vary, many diabetics may experience some or all of these symptoms:

- Blurry vision

- Fatigue (feeling weak, tired)

- Frequent urination (having to go to the bathroom too much)

- Increased hunger (especially after eating)

- Increased thirst

- Skin infections

- Slow healing wounds/cuts

- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain (not related to eating habits)

 

In some cases, there are no diabetes symptoms -- this can happen with type 2 diabetes. In this case, people can live for months, even years without knowing they have the disease.

 

For more information on diabetes, go to www.huronhospital.org. Click on “Ask Sue” or call the Lennon Diabetes Center at 216.761.4286. 

*American Diabetes Association