Extreme thirst and hunger. Frequent infections. Blurred vision. The symptoms of adult onset diabetes often go unnoticed, or people simply shrug them off. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the adult diabetes rate in Hazelwood decreased to 8.6 percent in 2009, compared to 9.7 percent in 2008. That's about the same as the state of Missouri, which ranks 23rd for the diabetes condition nationwide.

November is American Diabestes Month and according to the 2008 Missouri DHSS Diabetes Profile, St. Louis County the diabetes rate is 8.5 percent. Hazelwood resident Steven York knows about the importance of proper care for diabetes all too well. His mother, Mary York was diagnosed with diabetes at 23-years old and constantly struggled with the disease until her death at the age of 58.

"Diabetes is the easiest disease to ignore until the damage is already done," York said. "If she had maintained her insulin and diet correctly from first diagnosis, she would probably still be with us."

York said his mother used insulin but did not follow a proper diet. He said her blood glucose would get out of control, causing a stroke when she was 48. At the time her blood glucose level was over 800 milligrams.  The normal range is between 70 and 140 milligrams.

Christian Hospital, on the Hazelwood-Florissant border, has a diabetes institute that provides education and outreach to the community. The program recently won an Express Scripts Foundation award of $30,000 for its Diabetes Busters mobile unit. The 40-foot motor coach visits sites around the area, providing more than 5,000 free screenings each year.

"Our Diabetes Busters mobile unit will receive a number of renovations and improvements, including a new chair lift, that will increase the number of community members screened," said Rebecca Sellers, Christian Hospital Foundation director, via press release. She said the upgrades will allow for the more in-depth A1C glucose screening and other tests.

Medical professionals agree: The best defense for any disease is to catch it early. If your blood sugar is high your doctor may recommend treatment as simple as changing your diet or losing weight. 

American Diabetes Month runs through Nov. 30.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes