Diabetes Alert Day – March 27th

Put on your diabetes detective hat!
March 27th is our opportunity to find people with undetected prediabetes and diabetes.

Most people with prediabetes have no idea they are living with elevated blood sugars and that they are at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Early discovery increases the potential for remission.

For type 2 diabetes, it takes an average of 6.5 years to discover. The Legacy Trial Results demonstrated that early and aggressive treatment of diabetes results in decreased risk of eye, kidney, nerve disease, heart attack and possible death.

Diabetes Educators can take a leadership role in their workplace and communities to uncover undetected diabetes.

7 Actions Diabetes Educators can take to Raise Awareness

• Place a link to the Diabetes Risk Quiz on your work website and invite staff to take the quiz.
   
• Print out the Risk Quiz and invite staff, volunteers and community members to gain awareness and take action.
   
• Host a Diabetes Awareness Reception – offer healthy snacks, an information booth and the Risk Quiz.
   
• Write a short article on Diabetes Prevention for your work-site newsletter and your local newspaper.
   
• Invite yourself to get interviewed about diabetes prevention with your local radio or TV station.
   
• Post the Risk Quiz on your social media pages. See how many people you can encourage to take it!
   
• Provide a presentation on Diabetes Prevention for a local Service Club.

Whether you work in the inpatient or outpatient setting, encourage colleagues to look at A1cs and fasting blood glucose levels to identify those with:

PreDiabetes: A1c of 5.7-6.4% or Fasting  BG of 100-125mg or Undetected diabetes: A1c of 6.5% + or Fasting BG of 126 +  

Newly discovered diabetes? Let’s inform the provider so immediate action can be taken to link the person to resources including a diabetes program referral, dietitian, pharmacist, eye care professional, dentist and more.

New prediabetes?  Let’s connect people to a Diabetes Prevention Program in their community or encourage them to take advantage of the abundance of online resources and Apps to help with behavior change starting today.

Resources to Help Get the Word Out

ADA Alert Day E-Toolkit – Help your organization prepare for the Sound the Alert Day, Download the

ADA Diabetes Risk Test can identify those at risk and promote behavior change action for individuals and their communities.

Risk Test for PreDiabetes – A user friendly web page that evaluates risk and provides helpful info

“Are you at Risk?” Page by the American Diabetes Association – includes the Risk Test, strategies to lower risk and information on predidabetes.

Screening and Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus 2018 – One page cheat sheet that summarizes screening, risk status and diagnostic criteria for diabetes. A great tool for your practice setting or to share with providers.