Six things to know about diabetes

Today is D-Blog Day -- an effort to rally bloggers to help raise diabetes awareness during American Diabetes Awareness Month, which is this month. The theme this year is “six things you want people to know about diabetes.” If you are on Twitter, you can see what people are posting today by searching the #dblogday hashtag.

Here are six things we want people to know about diabetes:

1. There are risk factors – while Type Two diabetes is avoidable, certain people are at more risk than others. Family history, age, ethnicity and lifestyle can all impact your chances of becoming diabetic.
2. If not properly treated, diabetes can lead to significant health issues that in turn drive higher health care costs for patients and for health plan sponsors. Employers and other sponsors of health plans can help keep these costs under control – and help their plan members live healthier lives – by focusing on ways to make it easier for people to stay on their diabetes medications.
3. Even patients already diagnosed with prediabetes or “impaired glucose intolerance” can delay or prevent the onset of diabetes through lifestyle changes and help from their doctor.
4. Cost is frequently cited as an obstacle to maintaining diabetes health, but there are opportunities for individual patients to manage those costs.
5. American Diabetes Awareness Month happens to fall in the midst of flu season. The American Diabetes Association and the Centers for Disease Control both recommend that anyone who has diabetes get a flu shot. Of course we hope these patients come to CVS/pharmacy or MinuteClinic for their shots, but the important thing is that they get one.
6. Finally, a word of #dblogday caution: While diabetes patients are using social media to great effect – sharing information, supporting each other and learning about their condition – recent research shows that you should never assume that the medical information you pick up in social media is accurate.