Video: November is National Diabetes Awarness Month, One in Three Will Have Disease

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi knows the impact diabetes can take on a person and on a family. In 2012, the Magnolia State ranked second in the country with the most people living with the disease. November is National Diabetes Awareness month and there are steps you can take to prevent and manage the disease.

The American Diabetes Association estimates nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes. Type one diabetes develops when the body fails to create insulin naturally. Type two develops when insulin levels drop due to poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Without insulin, glucose levels increase and the body starts to shut down.

“Blood sugar is the level of glucose that’s in your blood. When you have diabetes, that glucose does not get out of your blood like it should. It’s always good to keep a check on your blood sugar even if you do not have diabetes. That is one of things that you need to have checked at yearly doctor’s visit just to keep a check on that number,” says Dietician Stephanie Markham.

The ADA estimates 86 million Americans are at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. The symptoms include extreme tiredness, fatigue, hunger, thirst, increased urination.

There is no cure for diabetes. However, it can be controlled with a healthy diet and exercise. Dannie Rice has been fighting diabetes for nearly 25 years and is now on dialysis. He’s one 276,000 Mississippians living with the disease. Rice says living a healthy lifestyle is key to preventing and managing diabetes.

“You would have to take control of what you do. That is taking control of what you eat and most certainly what you drink, basically alcohol. Whatever you put in your body it can affect your whole lot.” says Rice.

Being diabetic can also take a toll on your overall health. People with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure.

The ADA estimates one in three American adults will have diabetes by the year 2050.