November is Diabetes Awareness Month
Learn the signs and symptoms, and the lifestyle choices you can make now to avoid a diabetes diagnosis in the future.
30.3 million Americans have diabetes.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that impacts how the pancreas processes sugar and the levels of glucose in the blood stream. There are two types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes an autoimmune process that destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This type of diabetes effects about 5% of the people diagnosed with diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is treated with daily medication.
- Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and is diagnosed when your body cannot properly use insulin to process excess sugars effectively. Type 2 diabetes is treated with healthier lifestyle choices, medication and, sometimes, insulin.
Signs and Symptom
Diabetes signs and symptoms vary from person to person and can often go unnoticed for long periods of time. If you’re experiencing any of the following, you should consult your physician immediately:
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst and hunger
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Slow healing wounds or sores
Questions? Learn more.
Visit uhc.com to learn more or, if you’ve already been diagnosed, download UnitedHealthcare’s Diabetes Toolkit to understand how to manage your diagnosis.
Managing your weight through exercise and a healthy diet is one of the best ways to avoid diabetes or complications from diabetes. Resources are available to Olympic Steel employees through our medical plan, Employee Assistance Program and more. Visit SteelPerks.com to learn more.
For additional information, resources and ways to support the November Diabetes Awareness campaign visit:
