News Release: Nearly two million Washingtonians at risk of diabetes but majority don’t know

Washington State Department of Health sent this bulletin at 11/14/2018 10:27 AM PST

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News Release

For immediate release: November 14, 2018                                               (18-159)

Media Contact: Kristen Maki 360-545-2944

Nearly two million Washingtonians at risk of diabetes but majority don’t know

OLYMPIA -- Almost two million Washingtonians live with prediabetes, but according to 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey data, only 1 out of 11 reported being aware of having prediabetes.

“Taking a screening online or with a healthcare provider in person is now easier than ever,” said Lacy M. Fehrenbach, Assistant Secretary, Division of Prevention and Community Health. “For so many Washingtonians who are at risk of—or who may already have—diabetes, getting screened can be a critical first step toward better health.”

Watch (English or Spanish) DOH’s Alexandro Pow-Sang, diabetes prevention lead, Prevention and Community Health, talk about getting screened online at www.doihaveprediabetes.org.

“This November, our focus is for Washingtonians to get screened for diabetes and prediabetes [and to] take the risk test, it takes less than a minute,” said Pow Sang.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and November 14 is World Diabetes Day. All month long DOH is taking part in the global conversation around how to prevent and control risk for diabetes. For more information, visit the Diabetes Connection website.

The DOH website is your source for a healthy dose of information. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign-up for the DOH blog, Public Health Connection.

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