With nearly 26 million children and adults in America living with diabetes, and another 79 million at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, the disease is taking a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on our country. Yet, most Americans don’t consider diabetes a serious matter. They feel it is someone else’s responsibility; someone else’s problem.

Recent numbers by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paint a desperate situation of where we are at, and where we are heading:

• Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes.

• Diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

• Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to Stop Diabetes.

Now is the time to act.

During November’s American Diabetes Month observance, the American Diabetes Association encourages people to take action and raise their hand to Stop Diabetes. There are many ways to become involved by visiting facebook.com/AmericanDiabetesAssociation, stopdiabetes.com, calling 1-800-DIABETES, or texting JOIN to 69866 (standard data and message rates apply).

Diabetes is a serious disease. If it isn’t managed, it can damage many parts of the body, leading to heart attacks, strokes, amputation, blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. But there is good news: diabetes complications can be prevented or delayed by properly managing blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Eating healthy, being physically active, and quitting smoking also can help lower the risk of diabetes complications.

Self management is a way to help manage this disease. A self management workshop called Living Well with Chronic Conditions is offered in Davis County to help those with ongoing health conditions, including diabetes. Topics discussed include techniques for frustration and isolation, appropriate exercise to maintain and improve strength, appropriate use of medications and proper nutrition, communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals, and how to evaluate new treatments. For more information about this workshop, call Jessica Hardcastle at 801-525-5087.