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American Diabetes Association 'Sounds the Alert' for Marylanders to Take Diabetes Risk Test on March 27th

Posted on: Monday, 19 March 2007, 12:00 CDT

BALTIMORE, March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Maryland chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is sounding the alert about American Diabetes Alert(R) Day, March 27th, a one-day call to action to encourage those at risk for developing type 2 diabetes to take the American Diabetes Risk Test.

Diabetes is a devastating disease that affects nearly 300,000 people in Maryland. Diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in the United States, and more than 1.5 million people develop the disease each year. Diabetes cost Maryland $4 billion dollars annually and, despite aggressive research efforts, there remains no cure. Even with this high degree of visibility and vast scope, almost one-third of those affected by diabetes are not aware that they have the disease.

In addition, approximately 54 million Americans have pre-diabetes, which means that their blood glucose (sugar) is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. Without intervention, individuals with pre-diabetes are at a much higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The ADA takes the opportunity of "Alert Day" to help identify the undiagnosed and those at risk by educating people about diabetes risk factors and warning signs.

Unfortunately, people with type 2 diabetes can live for years without realizing that they have the disease. While people with diabetes can exhibit noticeable symptoms, such as frequent urination, blurred vision and excessive thirst, most people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes do not show these overt warning signs at the time that they develop the disease. Often, type 2 diabetes only becomes evident when people develop one or more of its serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye damage and nerve damage that can lead to amputations.

To help people better recognize their own risk for type 2 diabetes, the ADA provides a simple, seven-question risk test. The risk test, in English, Spanish, or Chinese, is available at http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test or by calling 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).

Among the primary risk factors for type 2 diabetes are being overweight, sedentary, over the age of 45 and having a family history of diabetes. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders are at an increased risk, as are women who have had babies weighing more than nine pounds at birth. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that one in three boys, two in five girls, and one in two Hispanic and African- American children born in 2000 will develop this devastating disease in their lifetime.

About the ADA

Diabetes is an epidemic that affects nearly 20.8 million people in the United States, a leading cause of death in more than 224,000 people yearly. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the ADA supports affiliate offices in every region of the country providing services in more than 800 communities. In Maryland alone, nearly 300,000 have diabetes; an estimated one third of the population is undiagnosed. The estimated annual direct and indirect cost of diabetes in Maryland is nearly $4 billion. For more information, visit http://www.diabetes.org/.

American Diabetes Association

CONTACT: Kathy Rogers, +1-410-265-0075 ext. 4672, karogers@diabetes.org,or David McShea, +1-410-265-0075 ext. 4673, dmcshea@diabetes.org, both ofAmerican Diabetes Association; Amanda Karfakis of Vitamin, +1-410-732-6542ext. 22, amanda@vitamininc.net

Web site: http://www.diabetes.org/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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