Diabetes Awareness Month is intended to promote awareness about the diabetes epidemic. Diabetes affects more than 37 million Americans and nearly one in two Americans has diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Pre-diabetes describes a condition where blood sugar is high, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. More than a third of adults have pre-diabetes and 85% of those with the condition are not aware of it. Although it may sound benign, pre-diabetes is a serious health condition. Pre-diabetes raises the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Pre-diabetes often has no symptoms.

Diabetes occurs when your blood sugar is too high. There are several types of diabetes, with Type 2 diabetes being the most common form. Common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, increased thirst, blurry vision, extreme fatigue, slow to heal cuts and bruises, numbness and tingling in the hands or feet (type 2) and, extreme hunger, even when eating more (type 1). In some people, the signs are subtle and may not be noticed. Diabetes increases the risk of health complications, such as stroke, eye disease, skin complications, chronic kidney disease, neuropathy, and hearing loss. The good news is that there are steps you can take to lower the risk of developing pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Genetic and autoimmune forms of diabetes cannot be prevented.

  • Maintain a healthy weight, even losing a few pounds can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
  • Stop smoking: Tobacco use greatly increases the risk of developing pre-diabetes and diabetes.
  • Diet: make healthier eating choices, including reducing or eliminating the use of sugary drinks, eating fewer processed foods, eating lean meats and plant-based proteins, and increasing non-starchy vegetable consumption.
  • Get active on a regular basis. Aim for 150 minutes a week of exercise. If you can’t do 30 minutes of exercise at a time, try shorter sessions of exercise. And don’t forget that walking is a great form of exercise and movement. Check with your physician if you have health concerns or haven’t been active for a while and remember to start slowly.
You can live a healthy life with diabetes. See your health care providers regularly. Keep up with diabetes related medical exams. See the information below regarding our new health partner TrestleTree, which can help you manage diabetes through its health coaching program, and from Lyra, which can help you cope with chronic conditions, including diabetes. Lyra can help support managing your emotions around chronic illnesses, including cancer, diabetes and more. Chronic condition support | Lyra Health. Beginning January 1, 2025, our new pharmacy benefit manager, Optum, has a diabetes program which includes lancets, test stripes and a glucose monitor. Stay tuned for more information regarding Optum and access the transition site at Home | OptumRx.

Speak to your doctor if you are concerned about having diabetes or pre-diabetes. The American Diabetes Association offers a test to find out if you are at risk for diabetes at 60-Second Risk Test for Type 2 Diabetes| ADA which you can use as a discussion point with your physician. The only way to know if you have pre-diabetes or diabetes is to have your physician run a blood test. For more information about diabetes, see the American Diabetes Association website at Diabetes Research, Education, Advocacy | ADA.