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March 24 is Diabetes Alert Day, an annual opportunity to encourage Americans to learn their risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Did you know that 1 in 3 Americans has prediabetes, a condition that means their blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a diabetes diagnosis?

As such, 90 percent of people with prediabetes do not know they have it.

Luckily, there’s an easy screening test that can help people learn if they are at risk. The test can be found at doihaveprediabetes.org and only takes 60 seconds to complete.

By answering simple questions such as, “Are you physically active?” and “Do you have a family history of diabetes?” participants can quickly learn their risk score.

This year for Diabetes Alert Day, we’re hoping to get as many people as possible to take the test.

There is one thing to keep in mind for our community, the Clark County Health Department offers the Diabetes Prevention Program, a lifestyle change program that is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Studies show that people with prediabetes who take part in the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change programs can cut their type 2 diabetes risk by 58 percent.

Call the Clark County Health Department at 859-744-4482 to learn more about the program and times offered.

Risk factors, statistics and resources

— Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include gender, family history, high blood pressure, age, physical activity, and body mass index. Add audience-specific information if this will help to better connect with the news outlet’s audiences.

— The website for the prediabetes risk test is doihaveprediabetes.org. It only takes a minute (or less) to complete the test, and it can be printed out.

— 84 million Americans, or one in three, has prediabetes. Someone has prediabetes when his or her blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Ninety percent of people who have prediabetes don’t know they have it. Prediabetes can often be reversed with healthy lifestyle changes.

— Studies show that people with prediabetes who take part in the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change programs can cut their type 2 diabetes risk by more than 50 percent.

— Do your part to stay healthy.

— The Clark County Health Departments hosts a monthly Diabetes Support Group meeting. Call for next scheduled time, 859-744-4482.

— The Clark County Health Department also hosts Healthy Living with Diabetes, a four part class series, once in spring and fall. The next class series informational session begins April 28 from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. every Tuesday until May 26.

To register, contact Amy Williams, MS, RD, LD, at amyw.williams@ky.gov.

Clark County Health Department provides programs for the entire family, including Smoking Cessation, WIC, HANDS, family planning, well child care/immunizations, and home health care.  For more information, call 859/744-4482 or visit our website at www.clarkhealthdept.org.  You can also “like” us on Facebook.