SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – 38 million people around the world have diabetes. Thursday is World Diabetes Day and this year providers have a different message for patients, take care of your whole self.

“It’s average that a person with diabetes makes 300 more decisions a day than somebody without diabetes,” said Katee Jennings, the Diabetic Counseling Program Coordinator at Lake Regional Health System.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that prevents the body from converting food into energy appropriately. It‘s a disease that requires constant attention and according to Jennings, it’s mentally taxing as well.

“Diabetes distress is a very real thing,” said Jennings. “Everybody that lives with diabetes has some point in their disease process where they’re just tired of it. They’re just tired of dealing with it. They’re tired of thinking that much every day, and so to be able to recognize that, and that’s part of the focus of World Diabetes Day this year, is diabetes well being that it’s the whole person.“

Jennings also said a lot of diabetics feel isolated.

“Either because they choose not to talk about it, or they don’t have anybody near them, especially those with type one diabetes,” said Jennings.

She said there are many resources available to diabetics to help them understand and manage the disease.

“There are certified diabetes care and education specialists all throughout the state that do diabetes education, and it’s recommended yearly, just to kind of check-in even with diabetes education, for even those that feel like they know what they’re doing, which many do, and it’s it’s just hard getting that routine,” said Jennings.

To reach Katee Jennings and learn more about diabetic counseling click here.

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