'Alert Day' Raises Awareness Of Type 2 Diabetes
DENVER (CBS4) Diabetes is reaching near epidemic levels in the United States. Thirty million people across the nation have diabetes and about eight million of them don't know it. That's why the American Diabetes Association is challenging everyone to take a quick online survey to assess their risk of diabetes.
LINK: The Diabetes Risk Test
The Diabetes Risk Test is an interactive online survey of risk factors including family history, medical condition, ethnicity, lifestyle, height and weight. At the end of the test, there is a risk score and tips for reducing your risk.
Studies have shown that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing 7 percent of body weight. Eating healthy and exercising regularly are the best ways to lose weight.
Diabetes Alert Day is Tuesday, March 24th. The Diabetes Risk Test is free and easy to share with your friends and loved ones. The American Diabetes Association calls it a "wake-up call" for the American public.
"Diabetes is a preventable disease … diabetes does damage to the eyes and the kidneys and the nerves, and all that is preventable … if it's identified in the stage that we call prediabetes," said Dr. Michael McDermott, Director of the Endocrinology Department at the University of Colorado Hospital. "That's why we want people to look and determine if they have a high risk so they can be proactive and doing the lifestyle measures that are necessary and very effective in preventing the development of full-blown diabetes."
LINK: American Diabetes Association
Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.
