Somerset County Declares November Diabetes Awareness Month

By Somerset County Board of Freeholders

The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders joins theMorris and Somerset County Regional Chronic Disease Coalition (RCDC) to declare November as Diabetes Awareness Month.

An informational display in the lobby of the County Administration Building, located at 20 Grove Street, will feature educational materials and local community resources throughout the month of November.

“The goal of Diabetes Awareness Month is to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and promote prevention and control of this disease,” stated Freeholder Deputy Director Mark Caliguire, public health and safety liaison. “We want to ensure the public is informed about the resources and services available throughout Somerset County.”

This devastating disease affects men and women of all backgrounds and ages. It can cause serious health complications including blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and the loss of lower limbs. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin and blood glucose cannot enter the cells to be used for energy.

Type 1 diabetes is most commonly diagnosed in young people and has no method of prevention. Type 2 diabetes accounts for roughly 90 to 95 percent of diabetes diagnoses in adults. It is caused by the pancreas failing to make enough insulin or the body using insulin incorrectly. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include advanced age, obesity, physical inactivity and family history of diabetes.

Nearly 30 million American adults and children have diabetes; another 86 million adults have pre-diabetes syndrome. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and the American Diabetes Association. These numbers comprise nearly 10 percent of the entire population of the United States, including 25 percent of senior citizens.

Compared to non-Hispanic white individuals, the risk of diabetes diagnosis is 1.2 times higher among Asian Americans, 1.7 times higher among Hispanic Americans and 1.8 times higher among non-Hispanic black individuals. These populations are growing in Somerset and Morris counties.

The American Diabetes Association projects that as many as one in three American adults will be diagnosed with diabetes by 2050 unless at-risk Americans become educated and consult with health care providers and professionals dedicated to supporting healthy lifestyles.

The RCDC is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Health Office of Cancer Control and Prevention to the Somerset County Public Health and Safety Department.

For a listing of programs throughout Somerset and Morris counties, to join the coalition or learn more about educational and screening resources, contact RCDC Public Health Coordinator Lucille Y-Talbot at (908) 203-6077 or ytalbot@co.somerset.nj.us.

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