Inova Diabetes Center at Inova Alexandria, Inova Loudoun Hospitals Raising Awareness of Diabetes

Falls Church, VA – (March 12, 2009) — Inova Diabetes Center at Inova Alexandria and Inova Loudoun Hospitals will help raise awareness of diabetes when it commemorates the 21st annual American Diabetes Alert Day on Tuesday, March 24. “This day serves as a wake-up call to remind the American public of the seriousness of diabetes, particularly when it is left undiagnosed or untreated,” said Terry Lumber, director, Inova Diabetes Center. “Early diagnosis and proper care is critical to stay safe and delay or prevent complications.”

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes could become the greatest public health crisis of the next quarter century. Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes and one-fourth of those with the disease — 5.7 million — do not know they have it. There are also an estimated 57 million Americans with pre-diabetes, meaning they have higher-than-normal blood-sugar levels, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes.

Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include:

• Being overweight
• Being sedentary
• Being over the age of 45
• Being of African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American or Pacific Islander heritage
• Having a family history of diabetes
• Having had a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds at birth

Take The Diabetes Risk Test at www.diabetes.org/alert or call 1-800-DIABETES to find out if you are at low, moderate, or high risk for diabetes. Individuals at risk should schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider.

Those at risk can also learn how to stay safe by visiting the Inova Diabetes Center, recognized by the American Diabetes Association for Quality Self-Management Education. The Inova Diabetes Center offers programs for type 1, type 2, gestational and pre-diabetes. Education classes also focus on self-care behavior changes, such as physical fitness, balanced nutrition, monitoring, prevention of complications, medications and coping. Diabetes education is a covered benefit with Medicare and most major insurers.

Visit www.inova.org/diabetes for more information.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.