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There are thousands of people walking around with diabetes right
now who do not know they have the disease. They don’t recognize the
symptoms and don’t even realize they are at risk. Raising diabetes
awareness is an important battle in the fight against this deadly
disease. The complications that accompany diabetes include heart
disease, stroke, blindness and limb amputation. If diabetes is
caught in its early stages, these complications may be avoided.
What are the symptoms of diabetes? Increased thirst, dry mouth,
frequent urination, increased hunger, unexplained weight loss,
fatigue and there may be blurred vision, headaches and numbness in
the extremities. Diabetes awareness projects publicize these
symptoms and urge people who may be experiencing them to get their
blood tested.
While it is important that every at-risk person be aware of these
symptoms, it is just as important for everybody to recognize them.
It is especially important to be able to recognize these symptoms in
loved ones who may be in denial. Beginning treatment as early as
possible is the best way to get diabetes under control.
Myth-busting is one of the goals of diabetes awareness campaigns.
Not all people with diabetes need to go on insulin, many can control
their diabetes with diet and lifestyle change. Nor do people with
diabetes have to give up eating “normal” food and go on bland diets
or eat specially prepared meals and give up sugar. The diabetic food
pyramid is the new standard for meal planning and it allows for
variety both at home and in going out to eat.
Raising diabetes awareness is an important issue for everyone.
People with diabetes have twice the chance of developing heart
disease or having a stroke. This risk can be greatly reduced if
diabetes is caught early and treated aggressively. The more people
know, the more likely they are to get themselves tested.
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