Pensacola, Fla. – In observance of Diabetes Alert Day, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) strongly encourages residents to find out if they—or someone they love—are at risk for type 2 diabetes by taking this quick and easy Diabetes Risk Test.

Diabetes Alert Day is observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in March by the American Diabetes Association and serves as a one-day "wake-up call” focusing on the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding your risk.

Diabetes is a serious disease that can often be managed through regular physical activity, healthy eating habits, weight management, and the appropriate use of insulin and other medications to control blood sugar levels — if lifestyle modifications are not working.

If you have these risk factors, you may be at higher risk than others for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC:

• You are overweight.
• You are 45 years of age or older.
• Your parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes.
• You are physically active fewer than 3 times per week.
• You ever gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds.
• You ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes).

If you are at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, the good news is that Type 2 Diabetes is preventable! FDOH-Escambia offers RESET: Small Steps, Big Change, part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is proven to help people who have prediabetes or are at risk for type 2 diabetes, prevent or delay development of type 2 diabetes.

For more information about the RESET: Small Steps, Big Change Program visit EscambiaHealth.com.

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About the Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyEscambia and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.