Diabetes is a very common yet still a slightly unpredictable disease. Nearly 11% of the US population deals with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, but the exact causes of this disease are still unknown. So, is it reasonable to be worried about getting it yourself?

Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Greenwood offers up some helpful information.

What Even Is Diabetes, Anyway?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the way the body regulates glucose, which is your body’s blood sugar. Glucose is important because it is the fuel that feeds your body’s cells, but it needs insulin to enter those cells.

The two main types are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. With Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t produce insulin, and with Type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t respond to insulin as well as it should and/or usually doesn’t produce enough insulin. To be a little more informed about whether or not you should be worried about the disease, we’ve listed some common symptoms below.

Common Diabetes Symptoms

• Increased thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Increased hunger
• Excessive fatigue
• Numb or tingling hands or feet
• Very dry skin
• Excessive urination—especially during the evening
• Blurry vision

How Do People Get Diabetes?

Like we said earlier, the exact causes of diabetes are still unknown; however, experts do say that things like family history, obesity and lack of exercise are some of the biggest risk factors.

Healthy lifestyle changes go a long way in lowering your risk of diabetes, so we’ve listed some below to help you increase your chances of staying healthy.

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.

We hope you feel better informed about this common disease! Please, feel free to contact our team at AFC Urgent Care Greenwood with any other questions about diabetes or other medical concerns you may have. We’re here for you now and always.