CDC Campaign Aims to Increase Awareness about Prediabetes

The American people are well aware of the existence of diabetes, especially type 2, which is the insulin dependent one, but they do not know that prediabetes is as real. According to Livescience, prediabetes is when one’s blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. And it doesn’t only lead to diabetes, but it could also be the onset of more serious life-threatening diseases such as kidney failure, stroke, dementia and even heart attack.

But the condition can often be reversed through weight loss, diet changes, and more exercise.

Doctors say that if pre-diabetes is not treated, up to 30 percent of those impacted could develop Type 2 diabetes within five years.

The CDC, AMA, and ADA have joined forces in a new prediabetes campaign to educate Americans on the health risks of the illness and raise awareness on the various factors that lead to the development of the disease.

Now there’s an online option for people to find out if they’re at risk. A doctor asks several questions to the viewers, such as, “Are you inactive?”, “Are you overweight?”, “Does type 2 diabetes run in your family?”, among others.

It’s been called a global epidemic – but most people don’t realise they’re on their way to diabetes until its too late. The campaign also includes an integrated SMS texting initiative which will allow people to take the risk test via text message and receive ongoing support and lifestyle tips.

The PSA encourages people to visit DoIHavePrediabetes.org, where they can take a short test to learn whether they’re at risk. “This campaign, after a lot of focus testing and research with Ogilvy and Mather, the ad agency, and the Ad Council, we decided that humor was the way to go”.

It is estimated that 14 per cent of adults had type 2 diabetes, with around 35 per cent of those remaining undiagnosed.

In addition to the CDC, the campaign was developed in conjunction with the American Medical Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the Ad Council.

In other ads, the doctor talks to some typical prediabetes patients – the busy mom, the guy stuck in traffic, the slightly tubby “bacon lover” – who are surprised to hear they’re not exempt.

Be proactive and take the test – it only takes a minute.

Are you at risk from prediabetes?

“People are actually taking action when they’re viewing the PSA”, said Albright. The good news even if you discover that you have prediabetes is that with some changes, the disease is reversible.