Maple Shade's Community Health Worker is reaching out to Somerset county organizations with the specific intention to educate the public on diabetes.
Key Facts about diabetes:
- Types of Diabetes: There are primarily three types of diabetes:
- Type 1 Diabetes: Usually diagnosed in children and young adults, where the body doesn't produce insulin.
- Type 2 Diabetes: The most common form, often diagnosed in adulthood, where the body doesn't use insulin properly.
- Gestational Diabetes: Develops during pregnancy and usually resolves after giving birth.
- Insulin: Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose from food to enter the body's cells, where it is used for energy. In diabetes, either the body doesn't produce enough insulin or can't effectively use the insulin it produces.
- Symptoms: Common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger, fatigue, slow healing of wounds, and blurred vision.
- Risk Factors: Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include obesity, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, family history, age, and ethnicity.
- Complications: Diabetes can lead to various complications over time, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, foot problems, eye damage, and dental issues.
Please reach out to: Brandy Dennis by email: [email protected] or phone: 410-621-5177