By Rep. Fred Upton -

This November is American Diabetes Month, an annual call to raise awareness about the seriousness of a disease that afflicts nearly 26 million Americans, or more than 8 percent of the U.S. population.   Of those millions of children and adults living with diabetes, 7 million have not even been diagnosed.  The figures become even more alarming when you consider another 79 million Americans are currently at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
 
Beginning November 1, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is encouraging folks to join its effort to stop diabetes by taking the ADA pledge on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmericanDiabetesAssociation.  While there, you can take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if you are at risk for developing diabetes.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of deaths in the United States in 2007.  Overall, the risk of death among people with diabetes is roughly twice as high as those of the same age without diabetes.  Similarly, medical expenses for those with diabetes are typically more than twice as high as those without. 
 
For many, diagnosis may come seven to ten years after the onset of diabetes. Early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of the disease’s complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation, and death.  Everyone should be aware of the risk factors for type-2 diabetes. Individuals who are overweight, physically inactive, or have a family history of the disease should consider themselves at risk.
 
To become involved in the movement to stop diabetes, please visit the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Month website at www.stopdiabetes.com.  For more information, you may also contact the ADA at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).
 
While American Diabetes Month is observed every November, diabetes is a condition that we should all be aware of and concerned with year round.

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