NEWS RELEASES:

Diabetes Awareness Event Set for March 23
     Learn about your risk for diabetes at the American Diabetes Alert Day event on Tuesday, March 23, at the Applewood, Cross Street and Meridian Street Pay Less Super Markets locations. 

      From noon to 4 p.m., Pay Less pharmacy professionals will be providing free blood sugar screenings.  Saint John’s Health System’s Diabetes Center educators will be available to provide information about diabetes and the education programs Saint John’s provides. 

      The American Diabetes Alert Day is a one-day, “wake-up” call to inform the American public about the seriousness of diabetes. The American Diabetes Association encourages people to take the Diabetes Risk Test and find out if they, or their loved ones, are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

      Why is Diabetes Alert Day important?

· 23.6 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes

·  Nearly one-quarter of those do not know they have diabetes

· One in five Americans is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes

For many, diagnosis may come seven to ten years after the onset of the disease. 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.

      Everyone should be aware of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. People who are overweight, under active (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 type 2 diabetes.

      Everyone should be aware of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. People who are overweight, under active (living a sedentary lifestyle), and over the age of 45 should consider themselves at risk for the disease.

      On Diabetes Alert Day, the American Diabetes Association will "Sound the Alert" about the dangers of diabetes. To help people better recognize their own risk for type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association encourages the public to take the Diabetes Risk Test which requires users to answer simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risk factors for diabetes. The Diabetes Risk Test shows users whether they are at low, moderate, or high risk for diabetes. If they are at high risk, they are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider.

(March 15, 2010)