MILLIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AT INCREASED RISK FOR -2)

“Diabetes is ravaging our community. We must spread the word about the many ways we can beat this
devastating disease,” said Risco. “I adopted my healthy lifestyle and committed myself to informing my
brothers and sisters about the rewards it brings—freedom from blindness, from amputation, from daily
injections of insulin.  My best friend had his leg amputated as a result of diabetes.  I can’t give him a new 
leg, but I can help inform others about taking small steps now to avoid that fate in the future.”
 
Dr. James R. Gavin, III, Chair of NDEP and President of Morehouse School of Medicine, says the partnership
of community-based healthy living programs and a national public awareness campaign is a prescription for
making real inroads to stem the diabetes epidemic in the African American community.  
 
“Every minute of every day, another American develops type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Gavin at the news
conference announcing the outreach effort. “Nearly three million African Americans have been diagnosed
with diabetes and millions more are likely to develop the disease in the coming years, unless we get serious
about prevention today.” 
 
“This is a job all of us must take part in. African Americans do not have to suffer from diabetes and its
complications.  Knowing how to eat healthy and increasing their physical activity are keys to longer, 
healthier lives. We must get the word out that type 2 diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful.” 
 
HHS’ NDEP is a federally funded program, co-sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, and is a leading source for information about diabetes care and
prevention.  NDEP has more than 200 partner organizations that form a network to reach the health care
community and those affected by diabetes at the federal, state, and local levels.
 
For more information about the campaign and free materials, including tip sheets and the GAMEPLAN for
Preventing type 2 Diabetes – tools to help people lose weight, get active, and track their progress – visit the
NDEP website at www.ndep.nih.gov or call 1-800-438-5383.