DIABETES DISCOVERY: THE KEY TO HEALTHY LIVING

Because of the prevalence of diabetes among Mississippians– an estimated 346,500 Mississippians have diabetes in addition to over 800,000 who are at risk for developing the chronic disease– nearly every Mississippian is affected by diabetes in some form or another.

"Let's face it– we all know someone who has diabetes," said Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi Executive Vice President Mary Fortune, who herself has lived with Type 1 diabetes for over 40 years. "Diabetes Discovery Week is a week of opportunities for Mississippians to take a look at their lifestyles and family history and make the necessary adjustments. This is just one way that the DFM is raising the public consciousness about who is at risk for diabetes and what steps can be taken to prevent the more common form of the disease."

"Diabetes often has no warning signs, and early diagnosis is vitally important to early control of this disease," said DFM Associate Director Irena McClain, MPH. "Diabetes Discovery Week provides us with an opportunity to really reach out to Mississippians and help identify those who are most at risk for developing the disease."

"The number of Mississippians living with diabetes is absolutely sobering, but there is hope," McClain said.

During Diabetes Discovery Week– March 17 to 21,– the DFM will be participating in blood-glucose screenings statewide and distributing diabetes information to hospitals, clinics, corporations, churches, synagogues and county health departments across the Magnolia state. The week gets a jumpstart on Friday, March 14 when the DFM hosts the annual Continuing Medical Education symposium for all of the state's health-care providers.

The goal of Diabetes Discovery Week is to help identify the estimated 110,000 Mississippians who live with diabetes unknowingly. It is a week when the DFM concentrates on identifying the undiagnosed in Mississippi through free screenings and health fairs and distribution of free materials. This campaign also focuses on raising awareness about what can be done to prevent or delay the development of diabetes.

If left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, strokes, blindness, lower limb amputations and kidney failure; however, its devastating and permanent effects can be prevented if caught in time. In addition, diabetes costs the state of Mississippi nearly $2 billion in annual health-care expenses, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health's Web site. "We want everyone to start living healthy lives, and the fact of the matter is that while Diabetes Discovery Week lasts only seven days, healthy lifestyles should be on everyone's mind 365 days a year," Fortune said.