Did you know? Almost 10% of all Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes! This is a huge amount of people, so how does a person get the disease? Not to mention, what does it do to the body?

Our AFC Urgent Care Southcenter team provides some helpful answers below.

How Do People Get Diabetes?

Unfortunately, the exact causes of diabetes are still unknown, but experts say things like family history, obesity and lack of exercise are some of the biggest risk factors.

If you haven’t been diagnosed with diabetes but are concerned about your risk of getting the disease, one of the best ways to lower your risk is by implementing and sticking to healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercising and getting between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. We’ve listed some other healthy lifestyle changes you can make to increase your chances of staying healthy below.

Ways to Lower Diabetes Risk

• Eat a high-fiber diet.
• Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese.
• Exercise regularly.
• Drink lots of water.
• Quit or refrain from smoking.
• Avoid a sedentary lifestyle.

What Does Diabetes Do to the Body?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body does not properly process food for use as energy. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy.

When your body’s pancreas has trouble or doesn’t make a hormone called insulin, glucose isn’t able to enter your body’s cells. This causes a buildup of blood sugar, which can lead to lots of serious health issues. We’ve listed some common ones below.

Serious Health Issues Cause By Diabetes

• Heart disease
• Kidney damage
• Blindness and other eye damage
• Increased stroke risk
• Nerve damage
• Skin problems

If you are concerned you have diabetes or have any other medical-related questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our AFC Urgent Care Southcenter team today! We’re here for you now and always.