Diabetes is a serious health issue that can contribute to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease and blindness, and can even result in limb amputation.

You can help prevent diabetes by following a sensible, healthful diet, maintaining your weight and incorporating regular exercise into your daily life.   If you have diabetes, you can maintain control of the disease through regular monitoring, following a physician-prescribed care regiment, adjusting your diet and maintaining a physically active life.

Diabetes is the percentage of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have diabetes, excluding pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes. The ranks are based on self-report data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System .

Diabetes is a long-term illness that is managed through lifestyle changes and healthcare interventions. Studies have indicated that the onset of Type II Diabetes can be prevented through weight loss, increased physical activity and improving dietary choices. The National Diabetes Prevention Program was created to bring evidence-based interventions to prevent diabetes to communities across the country. Additional diabetes information is available at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ and http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/ddt.htm) and the American Diabetes Association.