NH Department of Health and Human Services Supports National Effort to Raise Awareness of Prediabetes
Concord, NH, November 7, 2017 – A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that 84 million American adults have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are high, but not high enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes. This November, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is proud to support the efforts of the American Diabetes Association, the American Medical Association and the CDC, along with the Ad Council, to highlight the significance of prediabetes.
“We encourage people to talk with their healthcare providers about their risk of diabetes and whether they need to be tested for abnormal blood sugar levels,†said State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. “If abnormal blood sugar levels are caught early when they are still in the prediabetes stage, type 2 diabetes and related medical complications can be delayed or even prevented through lifestyle changes involving weight loss, diet change, and increased physical activity.â€
Up to 30% of adults with prediabetes will progress to Type 2 diabetes within five years. In New Hampshire, only about 6% of adults are aware they have prediabetes, but the CDC estimates that 34% of adults have the condition. People with prediabetes are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. Type 2 diabetes presents a significant threat to the Granite State, because of high healthcare costs and potential negative impact on quality of life.
New Hampshire’s prediabetes campaign encourages people to take a short online test at www.preventdiabetesnh.org and to speak with their health care providers about their individual risks. The website connects visitors to the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program, proven to prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes in adults with prediabetes. Ads will be featured in local newspapers, movie theaters, shopping malls, and city buses.
