Diabetes
Did you know . . .
- There are over 20.8 million Americans who are living with diabetes.
- Forsyth County has about 19,670
individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes and about 5,350 not yet diagnosed.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is
needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues
to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to
play roles. There are two major types of diabetes:
Type 1
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing
glucose to enter and fuel them. Type 1 diabetes only accounts for about 5-10% of all the cases of diabetes.
Type 2
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with
relative insulin deficiency. Type 2 however, is much more common as it represents about 85-90% of all diabetes.
We'd like to help!
The good news is that this disease is controllable. By becoming informed and making healthier choices people
living with diabetes can have healthy productive lives. For more information, please call 703-3219.
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