1. The Power to Control Diabetes Is in Your Hands

2. What is Diabetes?
Diabetes means that blood glucose (sugar) is too high – too much glucose in a person’s blood isn’t healthy
Diabetes can lead to serious health problems and premature death
About 24 million Americans have diabetes
Diabetes is a serious disease. It means that blood glucose (often called blood sugar) is too high. Glucose comes from food and is needed to fuel the body. Glucose is also stored in the liver and muscles. Blood always has some glucose in it because the body needs glucose for energy. But too much glucose in a person’s blood is not healthy. The key to taking care of diabetes is to keep blood glucose as close to normal as possible.
Diabetes can lead to serious problems and complications, such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and premature death.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in epidemic proportions throughout the U.S. and the world.
In 2007, almost 18 million Americans had been diagnosed with diabetes and another 6 million were undiagnosed—for a total of about 24 million Americans with diabetes.
Reference
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 2005.
NIDDK, National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet. HHS, NIH, 2007. 2

3. Diabetes Complications
2 in 3 people with diabetes die of heart disease or stroke
Diabetes is the #1 cause of adult blindness
Diabetes is the #1 cause of kidney failure
Diabetes causes more than 60% of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations each year
About 2 in 3 people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. The risk for heart disease and stroke is 2 to 4 times higher in people with diabetes.
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20 to 74 years.
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44 percent of new cases in Close to 180,00 people with end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant in the United States and Puerto Rico in 2005.
Diabetes causes more than 60 percent of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations each year. In 2004, about 71,000 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed in people with diabetes.
Reference
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 2007.
NIDDK, National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet. HHS, NIH, 2007.

4. Types of Diabetes Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes Gestational Diabetes
5-10% of diagnosed cases of diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
90-95% diagnosed cases of diabetes
Gestational Diabetes
7% of all U.S. pregnancies
Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes and usually affects children and young adults, although the disease can occur at any age. There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed. People with type 1 diabetes need to get insulin from shots or a pump everyday. Type 1 used to be called “insulin dependent” or “juvenile” diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for type 2 diabetes and its complications. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still makes some insulin but cells cannot use it very well. People with type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin or pills to help the body’s supply of insulin work better. Type 2 used to be called “adult onset diabetes.” Now more teens are getting type 2, especially if they are overweight.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs when women are pregnant. Having it raises their risk for getting diabetes, mostly type 2, for the rest of their lives. It also raises their child’s risk for being overweight and for getting type 2 diabetes.
Reference
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 2005.
NIDDK, National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet. HHS, NIH, 2005.

5. Preventing Diabetes Complications
Blood glucose (sugar) control
Blood pressure control
Blood lipid (fat) control
Preventive care practices for eyes, kidneys, feet, teeth and gums
Low-dose aspirin as directed by a doctor
People with diabetes and their health care team can reduce diabetes complications if they manage blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids, and by receiving other preventive care practices in a timely manner.
Studies have found that blood glucose control benefits people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In general, every percentage point drop in A1C blood test results (i.e., from 8.0% to 7.0%) reduces the risk of eye, kidney, and nerve diseases—by 40%.
Blood pressure control reduces the risk of heart disease or stroke among persons with diabetes by 33% to 50%, and the risk of eye, kidney, and nerve diseases—by about 33%.
Improved cholesterol or blood fat (lipid) control can reduce heart or stroke by 20% to 50%.
Detecting and treating diabetic eye disease with laser therapy can reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated 50% to 60%.
Comprehensive foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45% to 85%.
Treating early diabetic kidney disease by lowering blood pressure can reduce the decline in kidney function by 30% to 70%.
Studies have shown that low-dose aspirin can help prevent cardiovascular complications.
Reference
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 2005.
NIDDK, National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet. HHS, NIH, 2005.

6. The Power to Control Campaign
Managing the ABCs of diabetes
Checking blood glucose levels
Accessing Medicare benefits
NDEP’s Power to Control campaign was created to help older adults with diabetes learn how to:
manage the ABCs of diabetes (as measured by the A1C test, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol),
check blood glucose levels regularly, and
access Medicare benefits.

7. Campaign Components English and Spanish brochure
Online community outreach kit
Sample feature articles
Print and radio PSAs
Sample newsletter text
Talking points for community presentations
Campaign components include:
English and Spanish brochure
Online community outreach kit
Sample feature articles
Print and radio PSAs
Sample newsletter text
Talking points for community presentations

8. The Power to Control Diabetes Is in Your Hands Brochure
As part of the Power to Control campaign, NDEP offers The Power to Control Diabetes is in Your Hands brochure. Available in English and Spanish, the brochure educates older adults about:
managing the ABCs of diabetes
checking their blood glucose levels, and
accessing Medicare benefits that help pay for diabetes equipment, supplies and training with a healthcare professional.
The brochure can be downloaded or ordered for free from the NDEP website, or by calling NDEP.

9. The Power to Control Diabetes Is in Your Hands Online Community Outreach Kit
Facts about diabetes and older adults
Medicare benefits for people with diabetes
A calendar of promotion activities
Examples of successful promotional activities
Tools to implement promotional activities
Power to Control campaign resources
Power to Control Diabetes Is In Your Hands Online Community Outreach Kit provides information about diabetes in older adults and suggests how to promote campaign messages through educational activities, media events, and promotional campaigns.
The kit provides information and tools to help organizations promote the importance of diabetes control to targeted audiences.
The kit is available online-only at

10. Diabetes Management Materials
NDEP offers a wide range of free diabetes resources, including brochures, tip sheets, public service advertising, and more that can be used to reach out to people with diabetes, people at risk, or health care professionals.
Consumer materials are carefully tailored for groups at highest risk for diabetes—African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and older adults. Many materials are available in 16 languages, from Spanish to Samoan.