by Rene Roberts, M.D.,

Oak Street Health

(NAPSI)—If you or someone you care about is the 1 in 9 Americans the CDC estimates has diabetes, the answers to these 7 questions can help you enjoy happier holidays and a healthier new year.

Q. What is diabetes?

A. Diabetes is a chronic illness that develops from a combination of genetics, diet and lifestyle. Too much sugar in the bloodstream can stick to red blood cells and scrape the sides of blood vessels, causing damage and allowing the sugar to escape to other parts of the body.

Q. Why is diabetes so worrisome for older adults?

A. Most of the time, it’s not the diabetes but the complications that cause concern. Diabetes can lead to loss of feeling in extremities, loss of vision, and chronic kidney disease.

Diabetes needs to be taken s

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