Naval Hospital Jacksonville hosts a Diabetes Fair on Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the hospital's quarterdeck, near pharmacy. All are invited to attend.

Diabetes, a chronic disease that affects how the body turns food into energy, is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. More than 100 million Americans are living with diabetes or prediabetes. One in four people with diabetes (and 90 percent of people with prediabetes) don't know they have it.

Diabetes symptoms are hard to spot, and sometimes there aren't any noticeable symptoms at all. Symptoms can include frequent urination, feeling thirsty, blurry vision, feeling tired, or unexplained weight loss.

Risk factors for developing diabetes include: being overweight, age 45 or older, family members with type 2 diabetes, physical activity less than three times a week, or a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant) or giving birth to a baby that weighs more than nine pounds.

You can prevent diabetes with simple proven lifestyle changes such as losing weight if you're overweight, eating healthier, and getting regular physical activity.

If you have diabetes, see your health care team every three to six months: get an A1C test to check long-term control of blood sugar; discuss strategies to manage diabetes at home, work, school, and while traveling; talk with a diabetes nurse or nutritionist; and ask about the hospital's Diabetes Wellness Team.

To learn more, stop by the Fair or talk to your doctor.

NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the Navy's third largest hospital and five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. Of its patient population (163,000 active and retired sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen, guardsmen, and their families), about 85,000 are enrolled with a primary care manager and Medical Home Port team at one of its facilities. To find out more or download the command's mobile app, visit www.med.navy.mil/sites/navalhospitaljax.

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