(20-March-2005)Diabetes alert day is Tuesday-Heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and lower limb amputations are some of the complications of diabetes, yet many people still consider the disease just a "little sugar."

But diabetes is far more complicated and critical than that. In Michigan, 826,000 people have the disease. Nationally, that number is 18.2 million and 213,000 die each year from diabetes' complications.

On Tuesday, March 22, the American Diabetes Association will "Sound the Alert" about diabetes.

Diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in the United States, and more than a million people develop the disease each year. Diabetes cost the country $132 billion in 2002, up from $98 billion in 1997, and, despite aggressive research efforts, there remains no cure in sight. Even with this high degree of visibility and vast scope, almost one-third of those affected by diabetes, or more than five million people, are not aware that they have the disease.

In addition, approximately 41 million Americans have pre-diabetes, which means their blood glucose (sugar) is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified with diabetes. Without intervention, individuals with pre-diabetes are at a much higher risk for developing diabetes. The American Diabetes Association takes the opportunity of "Alert Day" to help identify the undiagnosed and those at risk by educating people about diabetes risk factors and warning signs.

Unfortunately, people with type 2 diabetes can live for years without realizing they have the disease. While people with diabetes can exhibit noticeable symptoms, such as frequent urination, blurred vision and excessive thirst, most people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes do not show these overt warning signs at the time that they develop the disease. Often, type 2 diabetes only becomes evident when people develop one or more of its serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye damage and nerve damage that can lead to amputations.

"With early detection and treatment, diabetes can be managed, and its devastating complications can be prevented or delayed," said Catherine Tibbetts, RN, MPH, CDE, president of Health Care and Education for the ADA. "The American Diabetes Association hopes that this Alert Day will help people recognize and act on any diabetes risk factors and warning signs they might discover. For millions of Americans, their lives might depend on it."

To help people better recognize their own risk for type 2 diabetes, the ADA provides a simple, seven-question pencil and paper diabetes risk test. The risk test, in English or Spanish, is available in brochure form by calling the American Diabetes Association toll-free at 1-888-DIABETES (1-888-342-2383) or can be taken online at www.diabetes.org/risk-test.

Among the primary risk factors for type 2 diabetes are being overweight, sedentary, over the age of 45 and having a family history of diabetes. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders are at an increased risk, as are women who have had babies weighing more than nine pounds at birth.

This year, to further support the goals of Diabetes Alert Day, ADA has the assistance of several national corporate and media sponsors, including Bally Total Fitness, Rite Aid Pharmacy and Discovery Health Channel.

American Diabetes Alert Day operates essentially as a grassroots campaign, with awareness activities taking place in many cities across the country. For example, in observation of Alert Day, New York City's Empire State Building will be lit up in red.