With each month comes a new designated awareness as advocates seize the opportunity to inform people in new and creative ways. Although it can be hard to follow, the tactic is a good one. If, for example, there is an increase in those seeking the various means of cancer screening after October, the effort is well worth it.

Also important – especially for Trumbull County residents – is Diabetes Awareness Month in November. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 12.6 percent of Ohioans are diabetic. That is approximately 1,129,638 people. Of Ohio’s population of 3,039,000 adults, 33.6 percent have prediabetes, with blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Each year, approximately 69,361 Ohioans are diagnosed with diabetes. But these are only the patients who are aware of their condition. An estimated 263,000 Ohioans have diabetes but don’t know it. Those undiagnosed people face even greater health risks.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 38 million people in the US have diabetes, but 1 in 5 of those people don’t know they have it.

There are two different types of diabetes: type 1, in which a person’s body does not produce insulin, perhaps because of an autoimmune reaction, and type 2, in which the body does not use insulin well and cannot properly control blood sugar levels.

Understanding symptoms and risk factors is essential, as is screening. Learn more here: www.cdc.gov/diabetes/.

While lifestyle changes like healthy eating, exercise, and weight loss can make a difference, there’s no substitute for coming up with a plan with your doctor. Whether it’s a prevention plan, symptom and risk assessment, screening, or a plan for living with diabetes, start the conversation.