Education
If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes, educating yourself is the best way to ensure that your life will be as happy and healthy as possible. Below is a list of educational facts, resources and things you can do to stay on top of your health and keep your diabetes in check. Talking to other diabetics will also help you understand the disease and how to take proper care and precautions against it. Wherever you get your information from, it is important that you get educated and pull from as many resources that are available to you.
- Know the difference between Type 1, Type 2, Pre-diabetes and Gestational diabetes. Each are treated differently and need different attention.
- Approximately 1.25 million American children and adults have type 1 diabetes.
- Diabetes is the leading cause for amputations of the feet and other extremities.
- 85.2% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.
- The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. increased by 382% from 1988 to 2014.
- Diabetes kills more Americans every year than AIDS and breast cancer combined.
- The American Diabetes Association has more free information online than you are likely to be able to read. A great place to start is on the “Recently Diagnosed” page.
- WebMD has a diabetes center with a ton of information about the disease. You can also find tips for living better with the disease if you have been diagnosed.
- Know what the symptoms are of diabetes so you can look for the early warning signs.
- The book, American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes, is a best-selling and authoritative home reference on diabetes.
- Don’t forget that your doctor is also a helpful and trusted resource in your fight against your diagnosis.