It’s Diabetes Awareness Month, just in time for the holidays. You may recall that I started this journey partly out of fear of being diagnosed with diabetes, having already been called pre-diabetic.

To be perfectly honest, I’ve been a little afraid of going back for a third test, just in case it was positive. My second test didn’t count because I’d been on antibiotics, which can really throw off the results. Sure, I’ve lost quite a bit of weight since then, but I’m still scared. It’s not in my family, so really, weight-loss should’ve put me back on the “good” list. But a friend of mine was recently diagnosed, and she’s had some seriously tough days. However, there were telltale signs, so for the benefit of others like me who were considered pre-diabetic and told to lose weight or else, here are some of the signs and symptoms of this life-threatening disease, pulled from WebMD.com:

·        Excessive thirst and appetite

·        Increased urination (sometimes as often as every hour)

·        Unusual weight loss or gain

·        Fatigue

·        Nausea, perhaps vomiting

·        Blurred vision

·        In women, frequent vaginal infections

·        In men and women, yeast infections

·        Dry mouth

·        Slow-healing sores or cuts

·        Itching skin, especially in the groin or vaginal area

The only one I’d ever really heard of was the slow-healing sores and cuts, and I believe any scratches I’ve acquired have healed in a timely manner. Can’t say I’m thirstier than usual, but I have been tired a lot. Might have something to do with getting less than four hours of sleep the past few nights.

Not itchy; no infections, thank goodness. So does this mean I’m in the clear? Hopefully, yes, because the No. 1 change anyone should make to prevent diabetes is take back control of their lives by losing weight.

Seems like the answer to everything, doesn’t it?

 If I would have listened, if I would have understood diabetes like I understood music, maybe these things wouldn't have happened.  ~  Marvin Isley

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Leslie J. Ansley is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur who blogs daily for TheRoot. She lives in Raleigh, NC.