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22ND ANNUAL AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION ALERT
DAY 2010 IS TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010
~ An Estimated 57
Million, or One in Five Americans, Have Pre-Diabetes
~
March 2010
March 2010 - Diabetes is a
serious disease that strikes nearly 24 million children
and adults in the United States. An additional 57 million
- or one in five - Americans have pre-diabetes, which
puts them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is named the "silent killer" because nearly
one-fourth of those with the disease - 5.7 million -
do not know they have it. For many, diagnosis may come
seven to ten years after the onset of the disease.
Early diagnosis is critical
to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some
of its complications such as heart disease, blindness,
kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death. That's
why the American Diabetes Association hosts the Diabetes
Alert Day, a one-day, "wake-up" call asking the American
public "What will you do to Stop Diabetes? Know your
risk." The organization encourages Americans to
take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out their risk for
developing type 2 diabetes and, if they are at high
risk, to speak with their health care provider.
Everyone should be aware of
the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. People who are
overweight, under active - living a sedentary lifestyle
- and over the age of 45 should consider themselves
at risk for the disease. African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos,
Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders,
and people who have a family history of the disease
also are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes.
Studies have shown that type
2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing just
five to seven percent of body weight through regular
physical activity of 30 minutes a day, five days a week,
and healthy eating. You can join the movement to Stop
Diabetes and get your free Diabetes Risk Test in English
or Spanish, healthy lifestyle tips and more by calling
1-800-DIABETES or visiting stopdiabetes.com. Although
Diabetes Alert Day is a one-day event, on Tuesday, March
23, 2010, the Diabetes Risk Test is available all year
long.
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