November is American Diabetes Month and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging residents to make lifestyle changes like becoming physically active, eating healthier and quitting smoking to reduce the risk of being diagnosed with the chronic, but manageable disease.

Nearly 26 million Americans are living with diabetes, a disease that can lead to serious complications like heart attack, stroke, amputation, blindness and kidney failure if left untreated or improperly managed. Another 79 million are at risk for developing Type-2, or adult onset diabetes. In Illinois, more than 8 percent of the adult population has been diagnosed with the disease. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes.
• Diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
• Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to stop diabetes.
• The national estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes is $174 billion.

The signs of diabetes are frequent thirst, constant urination, unusual hunger, rapid weight loss, fatigue and blurred vision. Risk factors for developing diabetes include obesity, family history of diabetes, being a member of certain racial ethnic groups (higher risk among African American, Latinos and Native Americans), and physical inactivity. Two keys to reducing the risk of diabetes are eating healthy and regular exercise. For more information log onto the Illinois Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at: http://www.idph.state.il.us/diabetes/index.htm.