Awareness Campaign's Message is Clear
CONTROL YOUR DIABETES FOR LIFE.

Las Vegas, NV. - June 5, 2005. The Las Vegas Diabetic Life Foundation has joined the National Diabetes Education Program as a partner in its Control Your Diabetes for Life Campaign. The National Diabetes Education Program is a joint program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We are confident that our involvement in this campaign will make a difference in the lives of people with diabetes and their families; said Diabetic Life Foundation’s Founder and CEO Bob Maxwell. Maxwell, who lives with diabetes himself adds “It’s time to recognize diabetes as a serious disease. Contrary to popular belief, it is not acceptable to have a ‘touch of sugar’ in the blood.”

Over eighteen million Americans have diabetes, at an estimated cost to the nation of around $100 billion each year. The prevalence of diabetes is rising as the U.S. population ages and as more Americans become obese. Diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness, end-stage kidney disease, and amputations of the foot or leg. In addition, people with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Death rates are twice as high among middle-aged people with diabetes as among middle-aged people without diabetes.

The campaign will raise awareness about the importance of controlling diabetes, especially among seniors and minority groups that are greatly affected by diabetes-specifically, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans. Between nine and 10 percent of African Americans and Hispanic Americans have diabetes, compared with seven percent of non-Hispanic whites. Among Native Americans, diabetes can affect up to 50 percent of adults; Native Hawaiians are twice as likely to have diagnosed diabetes as white residents of Hawaii.

“Aggressive treatment with healthy eating, regular physical activity, taking medications as prescribed, and monitoring blood sugar levels may help prevent or delay the illness and death due to diabetes,” said Diabetic Life Foundation’s Public Relations and Education Coordinator, Lisa Raco, RN. The National Diabetes Education Program recommends that all people with diabetes get a blood test called the hemoglobin A1C at least twice a year and talk with their health care providers about reaching their hemoglobin A1C goals. Research shows that keeping hemoglobin A1C levels at less than seven percent may reduce the risk of diabetes complications by 50 to 80 percent.

According to the National Diabetes Education program, the hemoglobin A1C is the best test for measuring blood sugar control. This simple test measures a person’s average blood sugar level over the 3 months prior to the test. The test measures the amount of sugar attached to the hemoglobin in red blood cells. Results are given in percentages.

Campaign materials provide information for people with diabetes about learning their blood sugar numbers and tips for controlling their disease. The materials also give health care providers information on ways to help patients manage their diabetes. For a free booklet about controlling diabetes, call 1-800438-5383 or visit the NDEP web sites at http://ndep.nih.gov and http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/. Information may also be obtained through the Diabetic Life Foundation’s magazine, Diabetic Life of Las Vegas. To find out more about the Diabetic Life Foundation, visit their website at www.DiabeticLifeFoundation.org or call 702-614-0041.