3-22-11: Diabetes Alert Day

Today is Diabetes Alert Day. In 2007, 9 percent of Marylanders reported a diabetes diagnosis. The figure for Baltimore was 13 percent, and that was a 55 percent jump from just five years earlier.

There are some simple steps to reducing diabetes risk; the hard part is getting people who are at-risk to take them.

Today, Sheilah talks about that with Shawn McIntosh, director of advocacy and programs for the Baltimore chapter of the American Diabetes Association. Also joining the conversation is Chandra Jackson, a doctoral student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

There are events all week to bring attention to diabetes, including a health fair and cooking demonstration at Baltimore’s Lexington Market and a workout at St. Agnes Hospital with the Baltimore Ravens’ fitness trainer. A full list of events is at the Stop Diabetes Maryland website.

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