March 27 is Diabetes Alert! Day

Does someone in your care have diabetes? Or do you have a friend or family member who is affected by the disease? As healthcare professionals we understand that education is the key to helping people live longer, healthier lives. The more we know—and the more we share with our patients, friends, families and colleagues—the more we can bring about change.

March 27 celebrates the 24th Annual American Diabetes Association Alert! Day—a one-day “wake-up call” asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Because more than 25 million U.S. children and adults—8.3% of the country’s population—have diabetes, and because nearly 2 million new cases are reported each year, understanding the disease is now more important than ever.

This year the ADA will be encouraging people to learn, communicate and share information about diabetes using Facebook as well as adding motivational incentives for people to take the test and spread the word via their social networks.

Want to learn more? Visit the Care2Learn diabetes education library for a complete list of courses on diabetes care and management—including diabetes complications, nutrition therapy for diabetics, and understanding barriers to behavior change in diabetes self-management and education.