Diabetes is very common and can be a very serious disease. In fact, March is American Diabetes Alert Month, so we want to shed light on the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding your risk.

Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Easley provides some helpful info.

How Can I Get Diabetes?

The exact causes of diabetes are still generally unknown, but experts say things like genetics, obesity and hormonal imbalances are some of the biggest risk factors.

Although genetic diabetes is very difficult to avoid, a healthy lifestyle will go a long way in lowering your risk of diabetes if diabetes doesn’t run in the family. We’ve listed some healthy lifestyle changes you can make to decrease your risk of diabetes below.

Ways to Lower Diabetes Risk

• Eat a high-fiber diet.
• Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese.
• Exercise regularly.
• Drink lots of water.
• Quit or refrain from smoking.
• Avoid a sedentary lifestyle.

What Will Diabetes Do to My Body?

Diabetes affects your body’s glucose levels. When we eat, our food is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy.

When the body’s pancreas has trouble or doesn’t make a hormone called insulin, glucose isn’t able to enter our body’s cells, which causes a buildup of blood sugar. This, in turn, can lead to lots of serious health issues, and we’ve listed some common ones below.

Serious Health Issues Cause By Diabetes

• Heart disease
• Kidney damage
• Blindness and other eye damage
• Increased stroke risk
• Nerve damage
• Skin problems

Diabetes is very common, but it’s not to be taken lightly. If you have diabetes or have any other general questions or medical concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at AFC Urgent Care Easley today!