HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department joins the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in recognizing November as National
Diabetes Month.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. More than 30 million
people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 4 of them don’t know they have it,
according to the CDC. More than 84 million US adults have prediabetes and 90% of them
don’t know they have it, according to the CDC. Prediabetes is a serious health condition
where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as
type 2 diabetes.
“Diabetes education is important because many people don’t even know they have the
disease,” Health Educator Amanda Johnson said. “Without proper care and education,
diabetes can be deadly.”
People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or stroke as people without
diabetes, according to CDC. Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease in the
United States, lower-limb amputations, and adult-onset blindness. Smokers are 30-40% more
like to develop type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers. People with diabetes who smoke are more
likely to develop serious related health problems, including heart and kidney disease.
You’re at risk for developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes if you:
Are overweight
Are age 45 or older
Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
Are physically active less than three times a week
Have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant) or given birth to a baby
weighing more than 9 pounds
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through a structured lifestyle change program
that promotes weight loss, healthy eating, and increased physical activity. “Diabetes can be
controlled and managed with early identification and education,” Johnson said. “It’s better to
be proactive than reactive.”
The health department will host a Lunch and Learn event focused on diabetes Wednesday,
Nov. 6 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided free of charge. Interested participants
must RSVP to Amanda Johnson at 731-927-8531 to attend.
Find more information about diabetes at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/. Call the health
department at 731-423-3020 if you have questions.