Diabetes Awareness Month shines light on 38 million Americans battling the condition

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, highlighting a condition that affects 830 million people worldwide, including over 38 million Americans.

Diabetes is categorized into two major types: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, lifelong autoimmune disease with no cure. In contrast, Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use its insulin effectively, often linked to obesity, inactivity, and genetics. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to severe complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower extremity amputations, making it the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.

Dr. David Hansen, an endocrinologist at Upstate Joslin Diabetes Center in Syracuse, emphasized the importance of research and discovery for improving patients’ lives. “I would like the patients I work with to have the best chance to have as typical a life as possible and that’s going to come through research and discovery,” he said.

Over the past 20 years, significant advances in technology have emerged to manage diabetes. Automated insulin devices and continuous glucose monitors for Type 1 diabetics, along with new drugs for Type 2 diabetes, have been developed. Dr. Joshua Vieth, senior director of research at Breakthrough T1D, noted, “We are expecting to see more advancement in the development of therapies over the next 3-5 years than we’ve seen over the last 10-15.”

Diabetes products (CNY Central photo)

Symptoms of diabetes to watch for include increased thirst and appetite, frequent urination, especially at night, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, and fruity or sweet-smelling breath, which can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially dangerous condition. Read more about the signs to watch for by clicking here.

NBC3 Anchor Megan Coleman will deliver a series of reports in the coming weeks to raise awareness about diabetes.