November is American Diabetes Month which was created in an attempt to focus the nation’s attention on diabetes and the impact of the disease within our communities. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 4 of them don’t know they have it. On top of this, over 86 million Americans have prediabetes with a risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than tripled as the American population has aged and become more overweight or obese.
Education and proper care can help people with diabetes live long and healthy lives and diabetes self-management education can teach people with diabetes to be proactive about their health, resulting in a better health status and increased quality of life. Awareness of resources and access to care allows people with diabetes to obtain necessary services and help prevent the complications that diabetes can bring.
Pioneer Memorial Hospital & Health Services offers free diabetic education classes which are open to the public. Learn how to manage diabetes and reduce your health risks. For information on when are classes are held or about our diabetic counseling, call (605) 326-3031.