LatinaLista — Today is a critical day of observance for all Latinos. It is Diabetes Alert Day.
If there was a growing medical crisis among Latinos, this disease is it. It is reported that for every five Latinos, two will become diabetic.
As of now, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, the risk of a diagnosis of diabetes is 66 percent greater among Latinos.
After adjusting for population age differences, 2007-2009 national survey data for people ages 20 years or older indicate that 7.1 percent of non-Hispanic whites, 8.4 percent of Asian Americans, 11.8 percent of Hispanics/ Latinos, and 12.6 percent of non-Hispanic blacks had diagnosed diabetes. Among Hispanics/Latinos, rates were 7.6 percent for both Cuban Americans and for Central and South Americans, 13.3 percent for Mexican Americans, and 13.8 percent for Puerto Ricans.
Organizers of Diabetes Alert Day say that today is usually a one-day wake-up call asking everyone to take the Diabetes Risk Test. But this year is different.
From today till April 22, a new diabetes alert campaign called “Join the Million Challenge” will be rallying one million people to take the Diabetes Risk Test.
The Diabetes Risk Test asks users to answer simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risks for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Risk Test shows users whether they are at low, moderate or high risk for type 2 diabetes. If an individual is at high risk, he or she is encouraged to talk with their health care provider.
With so many side effects and deadly and debilitating consequences if symptoms of diabetes are ignored, everyone owes it to themselves and their families to learn just what their chances of becoming diabetic really are — and get started fighting back.
