Minnesota has a high number of residents that have been diagnosed with diabetes. There are high costs and unfortunate death rates due to this disease. Additionally, many people have disabilities caused by diabetes. As a result, there are many plans and operatives that are working together in an effort to educate, prevent and reduce the number of diabetes cases in Minnesota. Because of this, many helpful programs have brought necessary resources to those in need.

Diabetes Epidemic

In Minnesota, diabetes is the the number one cause of death and disability. Basically diabetes is a disease that causes too much blood glucose levels in the blood stream. If not properly treated, diabetes can be very dangerous. Awareness and prevention skills are essential so it is important to educate those who have diabetes on how to generate the healthiest lifestyle possible and to help others take precautionary steps to avoid becoming diabetic altogether.

Diabetes Plan CENTRAL

In an effort to educate, Minnesota has an active program called Diabetes Plan CENTRAL (Collaborative Exchange Network to Raise Awareness & Learning). Diabetes Plan CENTRAL is basically an online tool that provides users with the ability to communicate and learn about diabetes. There are multiple people with diabetes and many who are at a high risk of becoming diabetic. With the resources of programs like Diabetes Plan CENTRAL, diabetes awareness can reduce the number of people afflicted so that diabetes is not so common in Minnesota.

American Diabetes Association, Minnesota

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) in Minnesota has taken an active role in the fight against diabetes. The ADA provides many programs to assist diabetics in learning how to properly care for themselves which include classes, counseling and support groups. The ADA is constantly researching diabetes to find a cure and a better understanding and more precise ways of determining who is at risk and how diabetes affects so many parts of the body. For helpful information about diabetes, living with diabetes, food and fitness visit the American Diabetes Association website at www.diabetes.org.

Minnesota Diabetes Steering Committee

Another concerned advocate helping to reduce the high diabetes statistics in Minnesota is the Minnesota Diabetes Steering Committee (MDSC). The MDSC has been dedicated to meeting quarterly since 1981, when the committee was established. The committee has been working towards reducing the impact of diabetes, influencing the Minnesota Diabetes Program, channeling statewide diabetes benefits and bringing together advocates and partnerships for many years. Over the last 20 years the MDSC has a history of accomplishments working towards a better future for diabetics.

Diabetes is indeed a problem in Minnesota and has even been referred to as an epidemic. The problem will only get worse if people don’t make the effort to educate themselves and become healthier as a result.