ADA Launches Campaign To Reduce Local Diabetes Numbers

Utica, NY (WIBX) - The American Diabetes Association wants to reduce the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in Oneida County. The group is spear heading an awareness campaign to inform the public about the disease, and ways to prevent it from growing. Jessica Bottoms, local ADA Manager, says there's no cure for diabetes, and it's important to understand the risk factors.

Bottoms said, "We're trying to get the message home that you should  take care of your diabetes, or prevent yourself from developing it for your family's sake--your family needs you to be healthy and feeling your best so that you can be there for them." She says the problem seems to be growing within the Latino population. "Diabetes is actually an urgent health problem in the Latino community because their rates of diabetes are almost double of those of the non-Latino whites, so getting information to the community about the seriousness of diabetes, its risk factors and those who may be at risk, helps us manage this disease," Bottoms said.

The ADA, a non-profit organization, is holding a cycling event called, Tour de Cures that will take place June 3, 2012, to raise money to further the its cause and work to find a cure for diabetes.

To register for the upcoming Tour de Cures, visit, www.diabetes.org/tour:

• Central New York Tour de Cure, Verona Beach, NY June, 3, 2012
• Finger Lakes Tour de Cure, Montour Falls, NY August 18, 2012

To learn more about the ADA's local campaign to reduce diabetes, visit, www.diabetes.org, or www.diabetes.org/espanol. You can also contact the group at 888-DIABETES Ext. 3663 , or at 315.438.8687 Ext. 3663.