Diabetes is a serious health problem that lasts a long time. It affects about 40.1 million people in the United States. That’s almost 1 in 8 Americans. Each year in Missouri, about 31,000 people learn they have diabetes. If diabetes is not taken care of, it can get worse faster. This can lead to very serious health problems and can even cause early death.
Prediabetes is also a big concern. It means your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes. People with prediabetes are more likely to get type 2 diabetes, heart disease and strokes. It affects over 115 million people, or two out of five adults, in the United States. In Missouri, over 450,000 people have prediabetes!
The good news is that you can manage diabetes — and you can even prevent type 2 diabetes! By making healthy choices, you can lower your risk. Choose healthy foods, be active every day, keep a healthy weight and stop smoking.