The 25th Annual American Diabetes Association Alert Day, a one-day, “wake-up call” asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, is March 26.
To help people better recognize their own risk for type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association provides the risk test, asking users to answer simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risks for pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Preventative tips are provided for everyone who takes the test, including encouraging those at high risk to talk with their health care provider.
You can be part of the movement to stop diabetes and get a free Diabetes Risk Test by visiting Facebook.com/AmericanDiabetesAssociation, stopdiabetes.com or by calling 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).
Although Alert Day is a one-day event, the risk test is available year-round.
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, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are at an increased risk for developing the disease.
On March 26 most Indiana Walgreen’s locations will offer free health screenings which include: blood glucose testing, BMI and blood pressure, during normal business hours. Visit your closest Walgreens for your health screening or visit Walgreens.com to find the location nearest you.
Diabetes is a serious disease that strikes nearly 26 million Americans including more than 714,000 Hoosiers. Twenty-five percent of those affected by diabetes are not aware they have the disease. Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take the steps to stop diabetes.
An additional 79 million, or one in three American adults, have pre-diabetes, (1.7 million Hoosiers), which means their blood glucose (sugar) is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.
Early intervention via lifestyle changes such as weight loss and increased physical activity can help delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes diagnosis often comes seven to 10 years after the onset of the disease, after disabling and even deadly complications have had time to develop. Therefore, 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.
“Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing just 7 percent of body weight (such as 15 pounds if you weigh 200) through regular physical activity (30 minutes a day, five days a week) and healthy eating,” said Jennifer Pferrer, executive director of the American Diabetes Association, Indiana Area. “The American Diabetes Association hopes this alert day will encourage people to take the Diabetes Risk Test and share it with their loved ones. By understanding your risk, you can take the necessary steps to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.”
