November is Diabetes Month. I know this because a little over a year ago, I became part of the American Diabetes Association of Orange County’s Marketing Committee. It is a volunteer group tasked with spreading the word about the work of the ADA and ultimately, helping stop diabetes. American Diabetes Month is focused on raising awareness and understanding of diabetes, its consequences, management and prevention.
My grandmother had Type 2 diabetes which lead to other illnesses. So “Stopping Diabetes” is a cause that hits close to home. Did you know that 29.1 million Americans have diabetes? That’s 9.3% of the population!
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Here are a few more staggering facts (from the ADA)
37% of U.S. adults aged 20 years or older have prediabetes.
About 208,000 people younger than 20 years have diabetes (type 1 or type 2). That’s about 1 in 40!
Diabetes contributes to the death of 234,051 Americans annually (Combinig death certificates that list diabetes as the primary and a contributing cause of death).
For more information and references, visit professional.diabetes.org/facts
Recently, I rounded up some of my blogger buddies to meet at the Costa Mesa office of the American Diabetes Association. We learned more about the disease and the programs by the ADA-OC, including Por Tu Familia: Pasaporte A La Salud, a health program that offers free classes that educate people about diabetes and maintaining healthy eating habits and a healthy lifestyle.
The ADA-OC also stages big fundraisers such as the Step Out Walk (held recently at Knott’s Berry Farm), the Tour De Cure, and the upcoming “Skate 4 Your School.” The National Scholastic Skateboarding League, Collegiate Skate Tour & ADA Skateboarding Event will take place on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at Volcom Headquarters Private Skatepark. See details in the image below or RSVP via email to nsskateboardingleague(at)gmail(dot)com
Next week, I will write more about the American Diabetes Association and its activities.
