By Tanna Friday
For The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council has signed a proclamation to observe November as National Diabetes Month.
Members of the council, including Councilor Alan Taylor who has the disease, hope to spread awareness about diabetes and its risk factors citywide.
Taylor, along with Councilor Zack Steele, recognize the importance of getting regular check ups, including eye exams, to improve the care of people with diabetes.
“Diabetes Awareness Month is an opportunity to increase awareness of diabetes and the importance of a healthy lifestyle in diabetes prevention and care,” Councilor Taylor said.
“This is something that I deal with every day with patients in my office,” says Steele, who is a optometrist in Trussville.
“One of the main complications of diabetes is vision loss. I would encourage you, if you know someone who is diabetic, to encourage them to get a yearly dilated eye exam. It is something that can save their sight and, in many cases, save their life.”
Taylor added that he is a patient of Steele and, too, suffers from diabetes. “I appreciate your comments because it is important for all of us,” says Taylor.
A few stats:
- According to the American Diabetes Association, 30.3 million Americans or 9.4% of the population had diabetes;
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) project that more than one in three people in the US have prediabetes, which is about 86 million people. Nine out of 10 of those people do not know they have it. People with prediabetes are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and for heart disease and stroke;
- In January, Medicare will begin covering prediabetes treatment provided by the CDC recognized diabetes prevention programs as the nation rushes to slow the increase in diabetes case;
