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<p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Did you know that November is National Diabetes Awareness Month? Chances are, someone you know&mdash;maybe a friend, coworker, or family member&mdash;is living with diabetes or at risk of developing it.</span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Diabetes is a growing problem nationwide and right here in Arizona. To put it in perspective, consider the entire populations of the cities of Flagstaff and Tucson. Combined, that&rsquo;s approximately how many people are living with diabetes in our state.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fast Facts from the Arizona Department of Health Services:</span></p>
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    <li>1 in 10 Arizonans have diabetes.</li>
    <li>Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in Arizona.</li>
    <li>1 in 3 Arizonans are estimated to have pre-diabetes. That is about 2 million people. Of those, 90% are unaware that they have prediabetes.</li>
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<p>Living with diabetes can affect much more than blood sugar. It can lead to serious health problems that impact daily life:</p>
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    <li style="margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">It can damage eyesight and even cause blindness.</span></li>
    <li style="margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 0.4px;"></span>It raises the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and circulation problems that can sometimes lead to the loss of toes, feet, or legs.</li>
    <li style="margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;">People with diabetes are more than twice as likely to have a stroke.</li>
    <li style="margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;">It can also take a toll on mental health, making depression more common.</li>
    <li style="margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;">Overall, adults with diabetes face a 50% higher risk of dying early compared to those without the disease.</li>
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<p>Resources:</p>
<p>It is important to note there are two different types of diabetes, each with different causes and potentially very different outcomes. Type 1 diabetes is responsible for roughly 5% of all cases in the United States. This form of diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood and is likely caused by an autoimmune reaction in the body, and it cannot be prevented.</p>
<p>The overwhelming majority of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which is typically diagnosed in adulthood. Prevention is possible through early detection of prediabetes, giving us the opportunity to turn things around with diet and exercise changes. The problem is most people with prediabetes, the precursor to type 2 diabetes, don&rsquo;t even know they have it. It is important to get screened for prediabetes. If you do have it, losing weight by eating healthy and increasing physical activity can lower your risk of getting type 2 diabetes by half.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 0.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Resources to understand, prevent, and manage prediabetes, type 1, and type 2 diabetes:&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.azblue.com/diabetes/education-and-resources" style="background-color: transparent; letter-spacing: 0.4px; color: #2273ba; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">AZBlue - Education and Resources</a></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">As part of a comprehensive action plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is seeking to reduce diabetes progression among members by 25% by 2025. To learn more about the plan, visit:</em>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.azblue.com/diabetes/by-the-numbers" style="color: #2273ba; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">AZBlue - By The Numbers</a>&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and&nbsp;</em><a href="/newsroom">Defeating Diabetes in Arizona </a></p>
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<p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This information is provided for educational purposes only. Individuals should always consult with their healthcare providers regarding medical care or treatment, as recommendations, services or resources are not a substitute for the advice or recommendation of an individual's physician or healthcare provider. Services or treatment options may not be covered under an individual's particular health plan.</span></p>
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Diabetes in Arizona: The Numbers, Risks, and Resources

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