In the United States, more than 38 million people have diabetes, and approximately 20% of those who have it don’t even know it. Another 96 million Americans have prediabetes, and approximately 80% of them are unaware they have it. It’s no surprise that diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.

That doesn’t have to be the case if more people were informed about their risk and were given the information they need to take proactive steps for their health. Fortunately, a month has been designated to raise public awareness about diabetes, the need for regular health visits, and how to manage it. It takes place in November and is known as National Diabetes Month.

The History of National Diabetes Month

This month was established by the American Diabetes Association a few years ago. They created this observance to raise public awareness about diabetes and the complications it presents to a person’s health. Although the exact date of its creation is unknown, we do know that it has been recognized for quite a few years now.

Important Facts About Diabetes

We can’t conclude National Diabetes Month without discussing the disease at the center of it: diabetes. So, we took to the Internet and conducted some research on the subject. When we finished our research, we walked away with a host of important facts that we think everyone should know. We have listed these facts below for everyone’s benefit.

• In 2019, more than 1.4 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in the U.S.
• Almost 70% of adults with diagnosed diabetes had high blood pressure, and 44% had high cholesterol.
• Approximately 40% of adults with diagnosed diabetes had chronic kidney disease.
• Approximately 12% of diabetic adults had vision impairment or blindness.
• Lost wages and medical costs amount to over $327 billion every year for the U.S. economy.
• People with diabetes have twice the medical costs of those without the condition.

Observing National Diabetes Month

Everyone is encouraged to learn everything they can about diabetes during National Diabetes Month. This includes understanding the symptoms, recognizing the importance of regular physicals, and learning how to control blood sugar and insulin levels if they have diabetes.

People are also encouraged to spread the word about this month using the hashtag #NationalDiabetesMonth. The more people that know about this observance, the more likely they are to take control of their health.