American Diabetes Month Brings Awareness To Growing Health Care Crisis

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 31 Oct 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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According to American Diabetes Association, 1 in 4 Americans has diabetes or is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes

What:

The American Diabetes Association's (ADA) American Diabetes Month brings to light the fastest growing health care crisis of the 21st century: diabetes. Nearly 75 million Americans have diabetes or are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

How:

Every week in November, the ADA will highlight the "Many Faces of Diabetes."

- Week 1 - Caregivers: Supporting a loved one with diabetes can present its own unique challenges.

- Week 2 - Employees: Promoting healthy lifestyles in the workplace can help to prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications, saving companies thousands of dollars a year.

- Week 3 - Diabetes around the world: Worldwide over 246 million people have diabetes. By 2020, that number is expected to rise to 380 million. The ADA is a proud supporter of World Diabetes Day (November 14) and the United Nations Resolution on Diabetes. The Resolution invites supporters to fight the diabetes epidemic through public awareness and the development of policies for the prevention, treatment, and care of the disease.
- Week 4 - At-risk populations: One in two minorities born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime if current trends continue.

- Week 5 - Youth and Type 1 Diabetes: Youth diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have the most urgent need for care. The new ADA Planet D campaign will provide resources and networking to those youth and their families.

Who:

The American Diabetes Association is the leading non-profit health organization dedicated to preventing and curing diabetes and to improving the lives of the nearly 21 million children and adults currently living with the disease.

Where:

American Diabetes Month information can be found online at http://www.diabetes.org/adm. Diabetes fast facts, information sheets, public service announcements, and handouts are available.

Why:

Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease and currently has no cure. Greater awareness can prevent development of type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications.

About the ADA

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country, providing services to hundreds of communities. The Association's commitment to research is reflected through its scientific meetings; education and provider recognition programs; and its Research Foundation and Nationwide Research Program, which fund breakthrough studies looking into the cure, prevention, and treatment of diabetes and its complications.

http://www.diabetes.org

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