Diabetes is a potentially fatal disease and the number of Delawareeans suffering from it is increasing, but there are steps you can take to avoid becoming victims yourself.
Precautions include checking your weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, and that doesn’t stop there, said Kelli Jankowski of the Delaware Program for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes and Heart Disease.
“If we reduce our alcohol consumption, stop tobacco consumption, make healthier choices with our food and become more active, then we can prevent diabetes,” said Jankowski.
Jankowski added that there are several symptoms to look out for.
“Increased thirst, increased urination, possibly lethargic or flu-like feeling … definitely dry mouth, numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes would be a sign of high sugar levels,” said Jankowski.
The State Division of Public Health’s report, titled “The Impact Of Diabetes in Delaware 2021,” said the prevalence of diabetes in Delaware increased from 8 percent to 13 percent between 2003 and 2019.
The report is available at www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/dpc/diabetes.
