505-470-2290 Office
Diabetes Alert Day
Estimated 1 in 5 New Mexicans have diabetes and don’t even know it.
NMDOH estimates more than 230,000 New Mexican adults have diabetes, and that one in five is not aware of the condition. There is also an estimated 620,000 New Mexico adults who have prediabetes, a condition that precedes type 2 diabetes in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal. Unfortunately, four out of five persons with prediabetes are unaware of their condition.
“Early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of its complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death,” said Department of Health Secretary Lynn Gallagher. “Diabetes Alert Day serves as a wake-up call to the dangers of diabetes, and emphasizes the importance of being screened for pre-diabetes and diabetes, and to treat it.”
Higher body weight increases type 2 diabetes risk for everyone. So does increasing age, especially after turning 40. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Women who have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy are also at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
For more information on diabetes visit the Diabetes Prevention and Control section of our website or call 505-850-0176.
Media Contact
We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact Paul Rhien at 505-470-2290 (Office) with your questions.
Versión en Español
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