YMCA of Ross County Supports Effort to Raise Awareness of Prediabetes

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that 84 million American adults (more than 1 in 3) have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are high, but not high enough yet to be classified as type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes have increased risks to their long-term health, including developing type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. Nearly 90 percent of people with prediabetes are not aware they have the condition. In Ohio, more than 3 million people have prediabetes. 

The American Diabetes Association (ADA), American Medical Association (AMA), and CDC, along with the Ad Council, are releasing new PSAs to build on a successful campaign that helped hundreds of thousands of Americans learn their risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The new, lighthearted PSAs offer viewers a “perfect way to spend a minute” where they can take the one-minute prediabetes risk test while also doing something everyone loves — watching adorable animal videos. The YMCA of Ross County is proud to lend its support to the campaign, which raises the urgency of prediabetes and emphasizes the positive message that prediabetes can often be reversed through everyday lifestyle changes. The campaign encourages people to take a short online test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org to learn their risk and speak with their doctor to confirm their diagnosis. The website features lifestyle tips and connects visitors to the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program. 

“Adena Health System’s community needs assessment identified diabetes as one of the top health concerns facing residents of our area back in 2013. We at the YMCA set out to provide one piece of the solution to an epidemic problem by bringing the CDC-approved Diabetes Prevention Program to our community in 2015. Since then, we have helped many people at high risk for diabetes lower their risk, lower their body weight and increase their physical activity levels,” said YMCA CEO Steve Clever. 

Prediabetes can often be reversed through weight loss, diet changes, and increased physical activity. Diagnosis is critical, as research shows that people are much more likely to make the necessary lifestyle changes once they are aware of their condition. A rise in incidence of type 2 diabetes presents a significant threat to south-central Ohio, as already one of the lowest ranking communities in Ohio for quality and length of life. In an effort to reverse this trend, the YMCA of Ross County is supporting the national effort and working to make an impact in the community through providing the CDC-approved Diabetes Prevention Program. 

Additional information on the campaign is available online at DoIHavePrediabetes.org and information about the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is available at www.rosscountyymca.org


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