Every fourth Tuesday in March is the American Diabetes Association Alert Day.  It is a one-day “wake-up call” asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Free type 2 diabetes risk test by the American Diabetes Association

WHY TAKE THE TEST.  Diabetes is a serious disease that strikes nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States, and a quarter of them – seven million – do not even know they have it.  An additional 79 million, or one in three American adults, have prediabetes, which puts them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.  Unfortunately, diagnosis often comes seven to 10 years after the onset of the disease, after disabling and even deadly complications have had time to develop.  Therefore, early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of its complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THE TEST.  Everyone should be aware of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes.  People who are overweight, under active (living a sedentary lifestyle) and over the age of 45 should consider themselves at risk for the disease.  African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and people who have a family history of the disease also are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes.

HOW TO TAKE THE TEST.  The free diabetes risk test only takes 1 minute.  Here are 3 ways to take it:

  • Online at www.diabetes.org.Click HERE to take the test.
  • Telephone 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)
  • Walgreens pharmacist (just ask for a copy of the Diabetes Risk Test)

Although Alert Day is a one-day event, the Diabetes Risk Test is available year-round.  Continue to reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes by staying active.  Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed by losing just 7 percent of body weight (such as 15 pounds if you weigh 200) through regular physical activity (30 minutes a day, five days a week) and healthy eating.

Empower yourself.  Take the test!

Source: American Diabetes Association