November is Diabetes Education Month

Nearly 26 million children and adults in American are living with diabetes.  Another 79 million are at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

November is National Diabetes Month.  Diabetes educators at both Winneshiek Medical Center and at Gundersen Lutheran--Decorah Clinic are stressing how serious diabetes can if it is not properly treated.

The biggest risk factors for developing type II diabetes include being overweight or having a family member who is overweight; being over 40 years old; and giving birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds.

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless.  Some of the symptoms to look for include frequent urination; unusual weight loss; extreme fatigue and Irritability; frequent infections and cuts or bruises that are slow to heal.

Winneshiek Medical Center is offering a two-session pre-diabetes class this Monday and next Monday, November 7th and 14th, from 5:15 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. both days on the lower level of the medical center.  The class is open to anyone interested in understanding and preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes.  The cost of the course is normally $50, but donations from the Calmar Corvette Club have lowered the class cost to $25 for this session's participants.

For more information about diabetes, talk with your healthcare provider or call either Winneshiek Medical Center at (563) 382-2911 or the Gundersen Lutheran Decorah Clinic at (563) 382-3140.