Several medical organizations are teaming up to launch the first prediabetes public service advertising (PSA) campaign.
Prediabetes is a condition that causes a person to have a higher-than-normal blood sugar level, but not yet high enough to be considered type II diabetes. However, if left untreated, prediabetes will likely become diabetes within 10 years.
"For the 86 million Americans with prediabetes, we need to communicate a sense of urgency -- that it's time to take action," Ann Albright, director of the CDC Division of Diabetes Translation, said. "By participating in a CDC-recognized diabetes prevention program, people with prediabetes can learn practical, real-life changes and cut their risk for developing type II diabetes by 58 percent."
The campaign consists of TV, radio, print, outdoor and online PSAs in both English and Spanish, as well as social media posts and an SMS text initiative. The ads focus on encouraging everyone to visit www.doihaveprediabetes.org to test for prediabetes and review steps to address the issue.
"Awareness is crucial in the effort to stop type II diabetes," David Marrero, director of the Diabetes Translation Research Center at the Indiana University School of Medicine, said. "Take one minute to take the risk test today and share it with your loved ones. The type II diabetes risk test can be the first step in knowing where you stand and helping us get closer to our vision of a life free of diabetes and all of its burdens."
Developed pro bono by Ogilvy & Mather New York, the campaign was developed by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
