Letter: Consider Healthy Choices on American Diabetes Alert Day

Tuesday, Mar. 27, 2012, is American Diabetes Alert Day—a “wake up” call to inform people about the seriousness of diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to deadly complications—including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputation.

Nearly 26 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes—including 375,000 people in Minnesota. A quarter of those with the disease—almost 100,000 in Minnesota alone, do not know they have it. By 2050, as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes.

The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through regular physical activity, healthy eating and by losing just 7 percent of body weight (such as 15 pounds if you weigh 200).

We strongly urge you to take the Diabetes Risk Test and share the test with everyone you care about—friends, family members and colleagues. You can take your free Diabetes Risk Test (in English or Spanish) by visiting the American Diabetes Association on their websitewww.stopdiabetes.com, Facebook page, or by calling 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). The Diabetes Risk Test is available year-round and includes links to information on ways you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.

Sincerely,

The Minnesota Diabetes and Heart Health Collaborative

Minnesota’s leading nonprofit health organizations working together to keep you informed. Learn more at www.mn-dc.org.

Have something of your own to say? Send us a letter by emailing ryan.gauthier@patch.com.