FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 5, 2004) – The Kentucky Diabetes Prevention and Control Program has joined with the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) to urge the 18.2 million people with diabetes nationwide to manage their blood pressure and cholesterol, along with blood glucose often called blood sugar.  This approach helps prevent heart attack and stroke—the leading killers of people with diabetes. 

          In recognition of February as American Heart Month, these two groups are joining forces to inform people with diabetes that good diabetes management is more than lowering blood glucose. Managing blood pressure and cholesterol is also crucial. New studies show a strong link between diabetes and heart disease and the vast majority of people with diabetes don’t know about their very high risk of cardiovascular disease. 

In addition, February is also Black History Month, which makes it an opportune time to point out that while diabetes is on the rise for all Americans, the statistics for blacks are especially sobering. So, this month is a particularly good time to sound the alarm about this disease and its deadly complications – heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, amputations, blindness – that continue to threaten the lives and well-being of all Americans, specifically blacks.  

Nearly 12 percent or 2.7 million black Americans 20 years and older have diabetes and the rate in this community alone has quadrupled in the last 30 years.  Approximately 10 percent of Kentucky’s total population and 13.2 percent of black Kentuckians have diabetes, but about one third of them don’t know it.

However, The Kentucky Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, the National Diabetes Education Program, and other partners say there is good news all around.

“Diabetes is reaching endemic proportions, but it can be prevented and controlled in people at high risk for the disease by losing a small amount of weight through regular physical activity and healthy eating,” said Dr. Rice Leach, Kentucky’s Commissioner for Public Health. “If you already have diabetes, you can still live a long and healthy life with the disease and reduce your risk of serious complications by keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol within the recommended target ranges and following your doctor’s treatment plan.  Common sense living and good medical care will do the job for you.” 

Prevention is Possible!

You may be at risk for diabetes if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes. Blacks are particularly susceptible to this disease.  For instance, the Diabetes Prevention Program Clinical Trials, which had nearly 700 black participants, proved that moderate weight loss – 5 to 7 percent of your body weight – by exercising regularly and eating fewer calories actually prevented the onset of diabetes by more than 58 percent. For a 200-pound person, that means losing just 10 to 15 pounds.  Most of the trial participants selected walking 30 minutes a day, five times a week as their form of exercise. By taking these small steps, you can gain a big reward – a longer, healthier life without diabetes and its host of complications.  The same is true for all races and ages.   

Control it for Life!

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you need to know that you have a very high risk for heart disease and stroke. Most Americans don’t know that heart attacks and strokes are the number one killers of people with diabetes and 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease and stroke, and they often die younger. By lowering your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol even modestly, you can help cut the risk of heart attack and stroke dramatically.

This approach is called “Control the ABCs of Diabetes.”  The ABCs are easy to remember:

• A stands for the A1C test that measures average blood glucose over the previous three months. Target A1C goal: below 7. Get it checked at least twice a year.
• B is for blood pressure. Target blood pressure goal: below 130/80. Check at every doctor’s visit
• C is for cholesterol. Target LDL goal:  below 100. Get it checked at least once a year. 

“People with diabetes should always ask their health care team three things. What are my A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers? What are my treatment goals? And, what do I need to do to reach and maintain my goals?” says Leach.

For more information about Control the ABCs of Diabetes or Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 Diabetes campaigns. Call the National Diabetes Education Program at 1-800-438-5383 or visit www.ndep.nih.gov.  The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services diabetes website is www.chs.ky.gov/publichealth/diabetes.htm.

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