A free presentation on Diabetes will launch November as the Diabetes awareness month at the Fallon Convention Center, 7 p.m. tonight.

The motivational speaker is Frank Atherton, said Connie Honea, diabetes education coordinator for Banner Churchill County Hospital.

"I have diabetes and I understand the challenges you face," stated Atherton on a flyer for the event. He will share personal experiences and helpful insight of living successfully with diabetes. He will talk about taking control and the management of diabetes.

"Diabetes is an epidemic, actually its a pandemic; diabetes is affecting people all over the world," said Honea. "People with diabetes are not alone."

In the United there are 20.8 million living with diabetes, she said. Approximately five to ten percent have type 1 diabetes, the other 90 to 95 percent have type 2.

"Seven percent of the U.S. population has diabetes," said Honea.

Those at risk of getting diabetes have increased dramatically, she said. There are 41 million people in the United States with pre-diabetes.

"I think its important for people to realize type 2 diabetes is rampant in children," said Honea.

Taking the steps to prevent diabetes and knowing the risk factors for diabetes are important, she said. Maintaining a healthy diet, not skipping meals, watching carbohydrates and staying physically fit are key factors to helping to prevent early onset of diabetes.

Lifestyle changes showed the most significant delay or prevention of the disease in a federally funded Diabetes Prevention Program, said Honea.

Some of the individuals showing pre-diabetes or higher than normal levels of blood glucose and obese subjects who modified their diet and increased exercise decreased blood glucose levels to under pre-diabetic or diabetic ranges, said Honea.

Of the candidates tested, the ones who significantly decreased their blood sugar levels had lost approximately 15 pounds during the study by modifying their diet and increasing exercise, she said.

Signs and symptoms of the disease include: Increased thirst, increased hunger, fatigue, increased urination, especially at night, weight loss, blurred vision, sores that do not heal and heart trouble.

Many diabetics are not aware they have the disease until complications like blurred vision or heart trouble are found.

Honea said testing is strongly recommended for overweight individuals. Anyone with one or more of the risk factors should be tested, she said.

"Anyone concerned should be tested by a physician," said Honea. "Those over the age of 45 should be tested during yearly physical exams."

Those with pre-diabetes could be at the same risk of heart disease as those with diabetes, said Honea. Moderate weight control and exercise can significantly help prevent the onset of diabetes.

This is part one in a series of four about diabetes awareness which will run weekly throughout the month of November.

Viktoria Pearson can be contacted at vpearson@lahontanvalleynews.com