This year, the American Diabetes Association is making an ambitious commitment to eradicating diabetes, and they are calling on all Americans to help. Twenty-four million children and adults live with the devastating disease every day, and an additional 57 million are at risk of developing it. One in three children faces a future with diabetes if trends continue, and the statistics are more dire for minority children – up to 50 percent may contract diabetes. But people can take action to reverse the trend. That’s what the Web site stopdiabetes.com is all about. Type 1 diabetes, which occurs in about 5 to 10 percent of the cases, is not preventable. But Type 2 diabetes can be avoided by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Obesity is one major risk factor, and simply eating a healthy diet with plenty of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins can help. Getting active and exercising for up to 30 minutes a day helps as well. If you or your child already has diabetes – or have been diagnosed “pre-diabetic” — then these tactics can reduce your symptoms. Diabetics are at a higher risk of stroke and heart disease – nearly two out of three diabetics die from them. Kidney failure and blindness are complications from the disease as well. Diabetes isn’t a death sentence, but it is a serious disease that can have life-changing complications.