American Diabetes Month in November
In support of American Diabetes Month in November, the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) is spotlighting one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and the primary cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputations and blindness. People with diabetes are also at a higher risk of developing more serious complications from flu and COVID-19.
Approximately 254,000 people in Nevada have been diagnosed with diabetes. It’s estimated that an additional 70,000 people have the disease, but don’t know it, thus increasing their health risks. Approximately 18,550 Nevada residents are diagnosed with diabetes every year. SNHD Community Health Director Dr. Michael Johnson said, “As diabetes reaches epidemic proportions in the U.S., people are developing the disease at younger ages and at higher rates. People with unmanaged diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease and stroke than those who do not have diabetes.”
American Diabetes Month is sponsored nationally by the American Diabetes Association. The campaign aims to remind people who are living with diabetes, as well as those at risk of developing it, that there are options available to protect their health. The theme of this year’s campaign is: “Today’s Diabetes Hits Different.” The ADA notes that today’s diabetes has different risk factors and complications than existed in previous years. Today, however, there are different ways to “hit back.” These include new technologies and better resources.
Throughout the year, the Southern Nevada Health District’s Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion offers free resources, diabetes self-management classes, and a six-session Road to Diabetes Prevention program. Programs and resources are free and available in English and Spanish. They can be accessed on the Get Healthy Clark County and Viva Saludable websites or by calling (702) 759-1270.
The Health District offers free, year-round, diabetes self-management and education classes in English and Spanish. Virtual and in-person classes are available. To sign up to be on the waiting list and to be notified when diabetes self-management classes are scheduled, visit the Get Healthy Clark County Diabetes Workshop Interest Form or Viva Saludable websites.
Nationally, 96 million Americans have prediabetes, up from 88 million in 2019. About one in three Nevada adults has prediabetes with blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. SNHD offers the Road to Diabetes Prevention program, designed for people with prediabetes or who are at risk for diabetes. This free, online program is available in English and Spanish and teaches participants about risk factors and how to make simple lifestyle changes. Participants can sign up for the Road to Diabetes Prevention program on the Get Healthy Clark County or the Viva Saludable’s Programa de Prevención de Diabetes en línea web pages.
Finally, the Nevada Diabetes Resource Directory provides information about classes, prevention, low-cost clinics, specialists, support groups and more. The information is presented in English and Spanish and is available on the Get Healthy Clark County Diabetes web page.
