How to Participate in Diabetes Alert Day 2018
Diabetes Alert Day is a nationally recognized day to sound the alarm about the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and the health consequences surrounding it. Here are PVA’s suggestions for how you can support Diabetes Alert Day and make a difference in our community this year.
The Facts
Diabetes has become a major public health crisis. In San Antonio, approximately one in seven Bexar County adults suffer from either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes – and approximately half a million Texans with diabetes remain undiagnosed. In fact, according to University Health System, diabetes remains the 4th leading cause of death in Bexar County. Type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of heart disease or stroke and is associated with an increased risk of developing peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.).
To inform the public about the seriousness of diabetes, particularly when left undiagnosed or untreated, Diabetes Alert Day is a one-day “wake up call” to alert the community about the public health crisis that is reaching epidemic proportions globally. The aim of Alert Day is to get as many people as possible to take the Association’s one-minute Type 2 Risk Test.
Diabetes and the Risk for Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when arteries in the legs become restricted or clogged with fatty deposits, reducing blood flow to the legs. This can result in leg muscle pain when walking, disability, amputation, and a poor quality of life. Diabetics are at an increased risk of developing peripheral artery disease!
While everyone over the age of 50 is at risk for P.A.D., the risk increases if a person:
- Smokes, or used to smoke
- Has diabetes
- Has high blood pressure
- Has abnormal blood cholesterol
- Has a personal history of coronary artery disease or stroke
Ways to Raise Awareness about Diabetes Alert Day
Take the Type 2 Risk Test
Individuals and organizations can play an important role in Alert Day by encouraging friends, family members, employees, and members of the community to take the one-minute test to determine their risk for prediabetes, diabetes, and vascular complications related to diabetes, such as PAD. 90% of people who have prediabetes are not aware. Take the diabetes risk test online today!
Participate in Diabetes Alert Day
PVA is partnering with the San Antonio Health Advisory Board, American Diabetes Association, Humana Guidance Center and other community health advocates for Diabetes Alert Day, nationally recognized on March 27, 2018. Free health screenings, healthy snacks, nutrition presentations, giveaways and more will be provided for guests at the Diabetes Alert Day event at the San Antonio Humana Guidance Center on March 27, from 3pm-7pm.
Share on social media
There are some very short and sweet YouTube videos (featuring puppies and hedgehogs) promoting the one-minute Diabetes test that are great for sharing with your friends on social media. Find a video you like and share one on social media today!
Simply informing someone you know about the Diabetes Alert Day event or the American Diabetes Awareness website can make a difference! Many people are unaware of the prevalence and impact of diabetes, so spreading the word can be very effective, even if it’s just among the people that you know or talk to on a regular basis.
If you need more ideas about what to post on Diabetes Alert Day, you can download the eTool Kit from the American Diabetes Association website. There are a lot of great conversation-starters and graphics in the eTool Kit that can be useful to attract attention to your social media channels and posts. Use the hashtags #AlertDaySA and #Type2RiskTest on March 27 to push the initiative even further.
Post and spread the word at work
It can seem like we spend half of our day at the office, but your workplace offers a great opportunity to inform others about diabetes awareness and the Type 2 diabetes risk test. In the same eToolKit mentioned above, there are ideas and materials useful for successful Alert Day communication at the office. ADA suggests ideas such as challenging others within your company (or other companies in your community/industry) to match your activities to raise awareness about diabetes.
#AlertDaySA
As one of the largest single-specialty vascular groups in the nation, PVA invites you to support us in sounding the alarm about the prevention and early detection of type 2 diabetes and to help raise awareness about the disease in San Antonio. Please bring a friend, coworker or family member to visit our booth at the Diabetes Alert Day event on March 27 from 3pm – 7pm at the San Antonio Humana Guidance Center located at 950 S General McMullen Drive.
We urge patients to remember that ninety percent of those with prediabetes don’t know it, over half of physicians don’t screen for prediabetes, and even fewer physicians refer those at risk to prevention programs. It is crucial for people to know their diabetes risk because prediabetes can be reversed with healthy food choices, weight loss, exercise, other lifestyle changes, and medication. You can learn about all of this and more at the Diabetes Alert Day event. In the meantime, we encourage you to find simple ways to take preventative measures against diabetes in your daily life. We look forward to seeing many of you embrace this important day. PVA thanks you for doing your part!
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