As National Diabetes Awareness Month draws to a close, healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of getting diagnosed for prediabetes or type two.

Dallas County Hospital Education Manager Sally Swenson says there are some warnings that a person may have a form of diabetes. “Some of the things that they might notice is that they’re thirsty all the time. They’re trying to dilute those high blood sugars, and so it creates an increased thirst mechanism. Because they’re drinking all the time, they’re also going to the bathroom a lot. The other thing we notice is that they’re constantly hungry. So while the blood sugars are high, the cells of the body aren’t getting the energy they need because you don’t have the insulin to move the sugar into the cells. And so then they’re putting on excess weight or losing weight, and they can’t explain why.”

Swenson encourages anyone displaying these symptoms to consult with their physician. She points out that while type two diabetes is treatable, it can do a lot of damage to your body if not diagnosed. Some potential complications include amputations, blindness, tooth and gum disease, and kidney failure. To learn more about diabetes, click the link below to listen to the Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Swenson.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2019/11/21/lets-talk-dallas-county-11-21-2019-sally-swenson/