The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has named November as American Diabetes Month. For those who have diabetes, it’s the time to make sure you’re taking the right steps to control and manage the disease. Diabetes is a disease associated with high levels of blood glucose. It results from trouble with the conversion of food into energy in a process involving insulin.

People can develop diabetes if their pancreas does not produce enough insulin, if their tissues do not respond to the action of insulin, or a combination of both. People with diabetes are at increased risk for premature death or disability due to heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and amputations.

According to government estimates, diabetes costs the U.S. economy approximately $174 billion annually. Currently, 1 out of every 5 dollars spent on health care in the United States is for taking care of someone diagnosed with diabetes.

While there is no cure, the ADA is reminding diabetes patients that the disease can be managed and controlled if they follow these recommendations:

• Monitor your blood sugar regularly
• Take your medications exactly as prescribed by your health care provider
• Watch your diet carefully
• Lose weight (if needed)
• Increase your physical activity
• Make sure you get the recommended amount of sleep

It’s important for people with diabetes to be proactive when living with diabetes. For example, you may have to wear protective shoes to avoid inadvertent cuts or abrasions to your feet since wound healing may be delayed. Or you may have to take extra care to obtain an annual flu shot because complications from influenza can be severe in diabetic patients.

For more information about living with diabetes, ask your health care provider, download a copy of Concentra’s flyer on Diabetes Management or visit the American Diabetes Association Web site.