craigdailypress.com

You feel fatigued and weak in the afternoon, but you don't understand why. You grab a snack and continue on your busy day.

What you may not know is that your fatigue may be caused by low blood sugar.

In addition to fatigue, other symptoms that may accompany hypoglycemia and indicate diabetes include sweating, dizziness, headaches, shaking, impaired vision, anxiousness and irritability.

Amy Knights, the diabetes educator for The Memorial Hospital, recommends getting your blood sugar tested if you experience these symptoms.

"When people get older, they attribute problems like that to age," Knights said.

About 20.8 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Of those, 6.2 million don't know it.

That's why the association has declared November National Diabetes Awareness month.

Mary Doolin was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago and said that she was unaware of her condition.

"I didn't know I was diabetic until I went into the hospital," Doolin said.

Doolin said there are everyday struggles associated with being a diabetic. But what she has the most trouble with is maintaining consistent blood sugar levels

Knights said that Doolin's struggle is not an uncommon one.

"Our lifestyles make it hard," Knights said.

One thing to keep in mind is that there is more than one type of diabetes, and there are different symptoms that accompany each.

Type I diabetes occurs when a patient's pancreas slows or stops production of insulin, and they must administer it manually, usually through injections. The American Diabetes Association estimates that between 5 and 10 percent of people diagnosed are Type I.

Type II diabetes is more common, and occurs when the body does not use the insulin it naturally produces correctly. About 90 to 95 percent of people diagnosed with the disease are Type II.

Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women. During the pregnancy, some women develop Type II diabetes and need insulin regulation. When the pregnancy is over, however, the chance of developing permanent Type II diabetes increases.

Knights said that there is an increase in younger children being diagnosed with Type II diabetes, because of inactivity and poor diet.

"It's starting at a younger age," Knights said.

World Diabetes Day is set for Nov. 14, and Knights said that she and others are going to the fourth grade classrooms to administer blood sugar tests, as long as parents sign the consent forms.

Another offer Knights put out there was that, anytime a person wants a screening, they can come to her.

"I see patients all the time," Knights said.

There are also educational meetings at Sunset Meadows I and II for patients who have been diagnosed or people who are interested in learning more about the disease.

Knights said it is important not to ignore symptoms or attribute them to age, but to be checked and rechecked, make healthier choices and stay active.

For more information on diabetes, call Knights at 824-2511.

Melanie McDaniels can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 211, or mmcdaniels@craigdailypress.com.