New campaign uses cuddly animals to help raise awareness of prediabetes

New York – In an effort to raise awareness of prediabetes, a new campaign is urging individuals to take a one-minute screening test to determine his or her risk for developing the condition.

Prediabetes is a common precursor to type 2 diabetes and other serious health conditions. The campaign is a joint effort of the American Diabetes Association, the American Medical Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As part of the campaign, three one-minute videos featuring puppies, hedgehogs and baby goats were created to “offer viewers a ‘perfect way to spend a minute’ where they can learn where they stand by taking the one-minute prediabetes risk test while also doing something everyone loves — watching adorable animal videos,” a press release from CDC states.

Recent CDC findings show that more than one-third of American adults – about 84 million – have prediabetes, and nearly 90 percent are unaware of their condition. CDC states that prediabetes and high blood sugar often can be reversed by losing weight and adopting healthier eating and exercise habits.

Experts stress the importance of consulting your physician to discover whether you’re at risk for prediabetes.

“The number of Americans estimated to be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes is staggering,” Dr. William Cefalu – chief scientific, medical and mission officer for ADA – said in a July 25 press release. “By working together with these esteemed organizations, we hope to heighten awareness about prediabetes and help more Americans learn their risk so they can make the lifestyle changes necessary to reduce their risk and delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.”