American Diabetes Association, Capital BlueCross and Their Community-based Partners Urge Everyone to Take New Diabetes Risk Test

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Central Pennsylvania market of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Capital BlueCross are launching a program to urge people to test and find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. A kickoff press conference will take place 11-11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 26, at the Hamilton Health Center's 1821 Fulton Street location in Harrisburg.

This event leads up to the ADA's national Alert!Day on March 27, themed "Take it. Share it," in reference to sharing with loved ones about the importance of getting tested for diabetes.

Making remarks during the event will be: Jeannine Peterson, chief executive officer of Hamilton Health Center; Dr. Oralia Garcia Dominic, assistant professor at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center's Health Services Research Division of Public Health Services; and Dr. Rick Hammer, senior medical director at Capital BlueCross. Both Doctor Dominic and Doctor Hammer are members of the Central Pennsylvania American Diabetes Association Volunteer Leadership Council.

Capital BlueCross is extending this day-long initiative a little further by sponsoring a series of community-based events throughout the rest of 2012 where Hamilton Health Center will test people for diabetes, all with a focus on diabetes prevention, early detection, treatment and control. Details of the events will be announced at a later time.

People are also encouraged to take advantage of the free diabetes risk test (in English or Spanish) and share information about the free risk test with others. The test can be found by visiting the ADA on Facebook, going to stopdiabetes.com, or by calling 1-800-DIABETES. The risk tests are available year round.

Diabetes is a serious disease that strikes nearly 26 million Americans including more than 140,000 people living here in central Pennsylvania. A quarter of those affected by diabetes, or more than 5,600 living here in the mid-state are not aware that they have the disease. Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take the steps to stop diabetes.

An additional 79 million, or one in three American adults, have prediabetes, which means that their blood glucose (sugar) is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are at an increased risk for developing the disease. 

"By understanding your risk, you can take the necessary steps to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes," said Doctor Hammer. "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 and amputation."

American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

Capital BlueCross

Capital BlueCross is the leading health insurer in its region, providing health insurance coverage to residents in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Capital BlueCross is committed to making health insurance simple for its customers and members through all the stages of life by offering nationally acclaimed customer service and a full range of innovative benefit programs for groups and individuals at competitive prices. By establishing a culture of caring, Capital BlueCross constantly strives to do more in order to deliver more for the men, women and children who depend on the company for their health insurance needs. Capital BlueCross has been providing medical value to the people and communities of central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley for more than 70 years and employs over 1,800 people in the region. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. More information about Capital BlueCross and its subsidiaries can be found by going to www.capbluecross.com.

SOURCE Capital BlueCross