Speaker: Dr. Achal Ahmed, Endocrinologist with Centegra Physician Care

One in 12 people in the United States has diabetes. While 18.8 million people have already been diagnosed with the disease, it is believed that 7 million people have diabetes yet do not know it.Ninety-five percent of people who have diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not use it correctly. When the body doesn’t have enough insulin, serious complications can develop including heart disease, blindness, kidney disease and nervous system problems.To reduce your risk of developing diabetes, eat healthy foods, add more physical activity to your lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight.Talk to your doctor about whether you are at risk for Type 2 diabetes. He or she may prescribe a simple blood test to see if you have the disease.

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