IT'S RISKY BUSINESS TO IGNORE DIABETES
~ American Diabetes
Alert Day urges the nearly 60 million Americans who
are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes to take the
Diabetes Risk Test ~
March 2009
On Tuesday, March 24, 2009,
the American Diabetes Association will observe the 21st
Annual American Diabetes Alert Day - a one-day call
to action encouraging all Americans to take the Diabetes
Risk Test and find out if they are in danger of developing
type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious disease
that strikes nearly 24 million children and adults in
the U.S. It is named the "silent killer" because nearly
one-fourth of those with the disease - 5.7 million -
do not know they have it, and for many, diagnosis may
come seven to ten years after the onset of the disease.
But early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment
and delaying or preventing some of its complications
such as heart diseases, blindness, kidney disease, stroke,
amputation and death.
With diabetes prevalence so
widespread, it's imperative that everyone be aware of
the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. People who are
overweight, living a sedentary lifestyle, and over the
age of 45 should consider themselves at risk for the
disease. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans
and people who have a family history of the disease
are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes
as well.
On Diabetes Alert Day, the
American Diabetes Association will "Sound the Alert"
about the dangers of diabetes, and encourage everyone
to take the Diabetes Risk Test which requires users
to answer simple questions about weight, age, family
history and other potential risks for pre-diabetes or
type 2 diabetes. The test shows users whether they are
at low, moderate, or high risk for diabetes.
One in five Americans is at
risk for developing type 2 diabetes or may have the
disease and not even know it. If left untreated, it
can lead to deadly complications including heart disease,
kidney failure, blindness, stroke and amputation, which
is why it's so important to make them aware of their
own risk.
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