Nearly 6 million people have diabetes and don’t know it.

November is American Diabetes Month, offering people a good reminder to visit their doctors and have their blood glucose levels tested.

Types of diabetes From the American Diabetes Association

Type 1: Usually diagnosed in children and young adults, type 1diabetes is the most severe form of the disease. In type 1 diabetes, the body fails to produce insulin, which is needed to convert sugars and starches into energy.

Type 2: The most common form of diabetes, type 2 diabetes is when the body fails to produce enough insulin or ignores the insulin produced, which can lead to a variety of complications.

Gestational: Gestational diabetes affects about 4 percent of all pregnant women and occurs when their blood sugar levels are too high. It can be temporary but can also lead to complications for both mother and child if not managed properly.

Pre-diabetes: The precursor to type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes occurs in people whose blood glucose levels are high. An estimated 57 million people in the United States have pre-diabetes and research has shown that pre-diabetes could lead to long-term damage to the body, particularly to the heart and circulatory system.

Symptoms of diabetes
A person with the following symptoms should see his or her doctor right away.

Type 1 diabetes:
•    Frequent urination
•    Unusual thirst
•    Extreme hunger
•    Unusual weight loss
•    Extreme fatigue and irritability

Type 2 diabetes:
•    Any of the type 1 symptoms
•    Frequent infections
•    Blurred vision
•    Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
•    Tingling/numbness in hands/feet
•    Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections

Often people with type 2 have no symptoms