The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 37 million Americans have diabetes—and more than 7 million of them do not know they have it. So it’s possible that you, a family member or a close friend could be undiagnosed, or one of the 96 million people in the United States with prediabetes, a condition in which your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. Additionally, when diabetes goes untreated it can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, blindness and foot problems. Diabetes is also expensive. People with diabetes spend 2.3 times more on medical expenses than those without diabetes.
Every year in November the American Diabetes Association observes American Diabetes Month. For the millions of people in the U.S. who are at risk for diabetes, the American Diabetes Association promotes education, helps connect them to resources, and makes sure our communities are aware of their risk. The organization also encourages those living with diabetes to tell their stories to increase awareness of the disease.
