Learn Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes and enjoy healthy snacks and activities
Tuesday, March 28 marks the American Diabetes Association (ADA) annual Alert Day and Community Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Keswick Community Health is partnering with the ADA, MD Chapter to host this year’s festivities. This fun, free and informative event will include wellness vendors, health screenings, fitness activities, food, giveaways, and more.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to take the free Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test. By answering questions such as “Do you have a family history of diabetes?” and “Are you physically active?” participants can learn if they’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes in just 60 seconds.
“You can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes with healthy food choices, weight loss, exercise and medication, but knowing your risk is the first step,” said Tracy Newsome, Director of Community Health Strategies, American Diabetes Association. “Today we’re asking Americans to take the one-minute test to find out if they’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and we hope participants will share the test with friends and family.”
“Keswick is proud to partner with the American Diabetes Association on Alert Day. This is a wonderful opportunity for the public to learn all about their risk factors and type 2 diabetes prevention measures,” said Carmel Roques, CEO of Keswick. “The impact of chronic diseases on adults later in life is something that can be reduced if they have the right tools and motivation to make healthier lifestyle choices. By partnering with organizations such as the ADA we are able to provide increased access to resources, engagement activities and educational programming to serve the community.”
According to the ADA, an estimated 8 million Americans with diabetes are currently undiagnosed, with 156,000 undiagnosed in Maryland specifically. In addition, 86 million American adults have prediabetes—a condition in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Nine out of 10 people with the condition don’t know they have it, and prediabetes almost always precedes a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. People with diabetes are at significant risk for serious complications, including kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness and lower-limb amputations. However, you can prevent or delay your risk for developing type 2 diabetes through healthy lifestyle changes.
Diabetes Alert Day and Community Resource Fair will be held at Keswick, 700 W. 40th St., Baltimore, MD 21211. Alert Day is sponsored nationally by Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness.
About Keswick
With over 130 years of expertise, Keswick has become the area’s premier provider of services for older adults. Committed to enhancing the quality of life for the guests, residents and community it serves, Keswick provides a variety of award winning services that enhance their lives and get them back to doing what they love. Keswick offers Rehabilitation Services, Community Health Services, Adult Day Services, and Long-Term Care. For more information, visit www.ChooseKeswick.org.
About the American Diabetes Association
More than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and every 23 seconds another person is diagnosed with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (Association) is the global authority on diabetes and since 1940 has been committed to its mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. To tackle this global public health crisis, the Association drives discovery in research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and provides support and advocacy for people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes and the health care professionals who serve them. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
