Town of Swampscott
OFFICE OF THE
Board of Health
ELIHU THOMSON ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS 01907
BOARD OF HEALTH
LAWRENCE S. BLOCK, M.D. CHAIRMAN
NELSON KESSLER
MARTHA DANSDILL
(781) 596-8864
(781) 596-8865
FAX (781) 596-8818
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH
JEFFREY W. VAUGHAN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
ROSEANNE BRUNO, RN, EMT
Thursday March 17, 2011
Roseanne Bruno, RN, EMT
Public Health Nurse, Town of Swampscott
rmorrissey@town.swampscott.ma.us
Millions of Americans Have Diabetes and Don’t Know It
On Diabetes Alert Day, Take Action to Learn Your Risk
[Swampscott, Ma.] – In observance of Diabetes Alert Day (March 22), the National Diabetes Education
Program (NDEP) and the Swampscott Board of Health are encouraging people to take NDEP’s Diabetes
Risk Test [URL for Risk Test: http://ndep.nih.gov/resources/ResourceDetail.aspx?ResId=252] –to find out
if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes – including about 8% of the Essex County Population. It is
estimated that nearly one-third of the people with diabetes do not know that they have the disease. An
estimated 79 million adults are estimated to have pre-diabetes, placing them at increased risk for
developing the disease.
“Diabetes is a serious disease, particularly when it is left undiagnosed or untreated,” said Roseanne
Bruno, Public Health Nurse for the Town of Swampscott. “Everyone should be aware of their risk for
diabetes. If you have a family history of diabetes – such as a mother, father, brother, or sister with type
2 diabetes – or if you had diabetes during pregnancy – you need to know that you are at increased risk.
Other risk factors for diabetes include being overweight, physically inactive, and being over the age of 45.
Diabetes also is more common in African Americans, people of African Ancestry, Hispanics/Latinos,
American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders.
If left undiagnosed or untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease,
blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation, and even death. With early diagnosis and treatment,
people with diabetes can delay or prevent the development of these health problems.
“If you are at risk for diabetes, the good news is that you can take action now to lower your risk for
developing type 2 diabetes by making – and maintaining – healthy lifestyle changes,” Said Nurse Bruno
Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing a small amount of weight
– 5 to 7 percent (10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person) – and becoming more active. Action steps
include making healthy food choices and being active at least 30 minutes, five days per week.
###