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Diabetes is on the increase

The U.S. diabetes epidemic has been growing at 5% a year ever since 1990. This is according to Dr Ann Albright, the national spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association.

Diabetes statistics

It is estimated there are 21 million Americans living with diabetes. Another 54 million are referred to as pre-diabetic and are on the cusp of developing type 2 diabetes.

In the U.S., diabetes is the number one cause of:

• blindness
• amputations
• kidney failure, and
• heart attacks.

Diabetes Prevention Month

November is Diabetes Prevention Month in the U.S. and Dr Albright is keen to highlight that Type 2 diabetes is preventable, being a combination of genetics and lifestyle.

Dr Albright said, "The analogy often used is your genetics loads the cannon and your lifestyle pulls the trigger."

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