The American Diabetes Association will “sound the alert” about diabetes on the 20th Annual American Diabetes Alert Day, Tuesday, March 25. American Diabetes Alert Day is a one-day call to action to encourage those at risk for developing type 2 diabetes or those with loved ones at risk to take the Diabetes Risk Test (http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp)and, if they score high, to schedule an appointment to see their health care provider. Diabetes is a devastating disease that affects nearly 21 million Americans. Of them, over 6 million Americans are unaware they have diabetes. An additional 54 million Americans have pre-diabetes, which puts them at greatest risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Among the primary risk factors for type 2 diabetes are being overweight, sedentary, over the age of 45 and having a family history of diabetes. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders are at an increased risk, as are women who have had babies weighing more than nine pounds at birth. Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease and has no cure.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar (glucose), starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

Make it a priority to take good care of your body. The time you spend now on eye care, foot care and skin care, as well as your heart health and oral health could delay or prevent the onset of dangerous diabetes complications later in life.

Heart Disease and Stoke: People with diabetes have extra reason to be mindful of heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes carries an increased risk for heart attack, stroke and complications related to poor circulation.

Skin Care: As many as one-third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the first sign that a person has diabetes.

Foot Care: Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage in the feet or when blood flow is poor.

Eye Care: Diabetes can cause eye problems and may lead to blindness.

Oral Health & Oral Hygiene: With diabetes, you are at a higher risk for gum disease and other mouth-related problems.

Smoking: Kicking this habit is hard, but worth the work. Tobacco has many bad health effects. No matter how long you’ve smoked, your health will improve when you quit.

Alcohol: Alcohol is everywhere: at family gatherings, at cookouts, after the company softball game, and at parties. One very common question is “What would you like to drink? If you have diabetes, the answer is water!

Stress: Stress results when something causes your body to behave as if it were under attack. Sources can be physical, like injury or illness. Or they can be mental, like problems in your marriage, job, health, or finances.

Talk with your doctor. Get checked!

Joan Mason is Sumter County Extension agent/Family & Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Contact her at 924-4476.