Atrium Health Navicent Calls Attention to Diabetes on National Alert Day
Atrium Health Navicent physicians encourage individuals to learn more about diabetes and ways of combatting the chronic disease by observing National Diabetes Alert Day on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. In addition to committing to a healthy diet and exercise, Atrium Health Navicent urges everyone to schedule regular checkups with a primary care provider who will routinely check for diabetes risk factors and recommend steps to prevent the disease.
“National Diabetes Alert Day is a reminder of the importance of knowing your status, prioritizing regular health check-ups, and committing to a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Reid Roberts, a physician at Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care Internal Medicine Baldwin. “If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s vital that you manage your blood sugar to prevent serious and life-threatening conditions while continuing to live your best life.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 38.4 million Americans have diabetes. That’s 11.6 percent of the population. About 96 million U.S. adults have prediabetes, and in the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population has aged and become more overweight or obese.
Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the body is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate glucose levels in the bloodstream. Many cases of diabetes go undiagnosed. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious and life-threatening conditions including blindness, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and amputation.
In central Georgia, 17.2 percent of adults have reported being diagnosed with diabetes, a figure that’s well above state and national percentages.
Atrium Health Navicent provides support for individuals diagnosed with diabetes through the Healthy Communities Diabetes Disease Management Program and Atrium Health Navicent Diabetes Healthways. Participants in both programs are offered education about diabetes management and ongoing support.
Learn more about Healthy Communities by calling 478-633-5623. For more information about Atrium Health Navicent Diabetes Healthways, call 478-633-1531. To find a doctor, visit www.NavicentHealth.org and click “Find A Doctor.”
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health serves nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs nearly 155,000 team members across 68 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $6 billion in annual community benefits.