March 22 is Diabetes Alert Day
Observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in March, Diabetes Alert Day® is a one-day initiative led by the American Diabetes Association that focuses on the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding risk factors.
The YMCA of San Francisco encourages you to find out if you or someone you love is at risk for type 2 diabetes by taking a 60-second Risk Test.
Take the Test – Know Your Risk
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects the pancreas. It is characterized by blood sugar levels that are abnormally high.
- Today, 11% of American adults – more than 34 million people – are living with diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes accounts for more than 90% of diabetes cases.
- Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S.
What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes happens before type 2 diabetes. It is characterized by blood sugar levels that are abnormally high, but not high enough to be diagnosed diabetes. Without taking action, many people with prediabetes could advance to type 2 diabetes within 5 years.
- Today, 38% of American adults – more than 96 million people – are living with prediabetes.
- Only 1 in 10 people with prediabetes know they have it.
- Prediabetes may show little or no symptoms.
A complex combination of several factors put a person at risk for type 2 diabetes, including age, race, weight, family history and physical activity level.
Know Your Risk!
Individuals can assess their risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by taking a simple test. This assessment shows how lifestyle choices and family history help determine the ultimate risk for developing the disease.
If a person is at risk, we recommend a formal diabetes screening conducted by a medical professional to confirm a diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis.
The Good News
The good news is that healthy lifestyle practices, such as healthy eating, regular physical activity, and managing stress are shown to reduce the severity of symptoms associated with these conditions, and in some cases may even reverse or prevent the disease.
The Y is fighting back!
The YMCA of San Francisco offers YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, a one-year healthy lifestyle program which helps at-risk adults reduce the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Since 2013, YSF has served more than 700 participants across three counties in three languages. In our one-year program, participants lose an average of 5.5% body weight (about 12 pounds) and increase physical activity levels to an average of 162 minutes per week. Read Vanda’s Story.
Stop Diabetes Before It Starts!
Take the test, then share the test. Together, we can stop type 2 diabetes.
