MADEIRA BEACH, Fla., April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- One of every three people in the United States either has diabetes or is at risk for developing the disease. This generation of children is on the fast track to live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports one of every three children will get diabetes in their lifetime. For some ethnicities that number is one in two.

Defeat Diabetes Foundation (DDF) is on a mission to save children and their families from the pain of diabetes by empowering them with the tools to prevent diabetes or its complications.  

DDF has developed an online calendar of events at their website to take you through the month of April, which is designated Defeat Diabetes® Month. The calendar links you to articles, downloads, tools, puzzles and games, nutrition tips, healthy recipes and more. There, you will also find recommendations for special time with the family and everyday activities to improve your well being, such as Family Dinners, Plan or Plant a Garden, Try a New Veggie Friday, Take the Stairs Tuesday, Visit a Farmer's Market, or Fly a Kite. There are even cartoons to lift your spirits, from Theresa Garnero, cartoonist, Certified Diabetes Educator and award-winning author of Your First Year with Diabetes.

"We are providing information and activities focused on getting you to live just a little bit healthier each and every day," said Andrew P. Mandell, Executive Director of Defeat Diabetes Foundation, a non-profit charity leading the fight with a 20-year history of diabetes prevention efforts.

"People know that many of their eating and/or exercise habits are bad for their health, but they aren't sure how to break them," Mandell continued. "Defeat Diabetes® Month is a great way to start. I guarantee that if you participate in the entire month of activities you'll be a little bit healthier by the end of it and have a blueprint for going forward," he added.

And, by doing the following 4 things year round, you can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by as much as 55%!

• Eat 5 - 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
• Eat 3 servings of whole grains daily
• Get 30 - 60 minutes of physical activity 5 times a week
• If you are overweight, lose 5% of your body weight (for most folks that is only 10 - 20 pounds)

DDF provides critical information and education programs in all 50 states with a focus on diabetes, nutrition and physical fitness. Their website has over 5000 pages of information about diabetes and diabetes self-management. Their programs include: the Kid Initiative to Defeat Diabetes® (KIDD™), which has provided many millions of the valuable and effective Defeat Diabetes® Screening Test brochures (FREE) to schools in all 50 states; the KIDD™ Curriculum for schools and other non-profits; local Community Action Project templates; and, the Martial Arts Defeat Diabetes® Community Action Project (MADDCAP™), a historic health curriculum for martial arts schools and their students.

For information on diabetes, to take the free screening test or obtain additional information visit: http://www.DefeatDiabetes.org

Awareness + Action = Prevention®

Contact:

Dawn Swidorski, Public Outreach Director
dswidorski@defeatdiabetes.org
415.671.2991

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SOURCE Defeat Diabetes Foundation