November Is Diabetes Awareness Month: By Billy Tart, DNP, RN

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to recognize the growing impact of diabetes and take action toward prevention. In Wayne County, about 14.5% of adults are living with diagnosed diabetes—and that number is expected to rise in the coming years as obesity and sedentary lifestyles increase.

Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body cannot properly use or produce insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels that can cause heart disease, kidney damage, vision loss, as well as other complications. Equally concerning, an estimated one in three adults in the U.S. has prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet in the diabetes range. Most people with prediabetes don’t know they have it, since it often develops gradually without noticeable symptoms.

Without healthy changes, many will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.

The encouraging news is that type 2 diabetes is largely preventable. Regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, weight management, stress control, and adequate sleep can all lower risk and improve health outcomes. 

The Diabetes HealthCheck Program at UNC Health Wayne provides free community screenings and education to promote awareness, early detection, and lifestyle changes that can prevent or delay diabetes.

During Diabetes Awareness Month—and throughout the year—community members are encouraged to learn their risk and take charge of their health. 

For more information, visit www.diabeteshealthcheck.org or email billy.tartjr@unchealth.unc.edu