ALEXANDRIA, VA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/13/09 -- The American Diabetes Association will join International Diabetes Federation and their worldwide global diabetes efforts on World Diabetes Day, November 14, to raise awareness of the growing diabetes epidemic. This year's theme for World Diabetes Day is Diabetes Education and Prevention.

"It is critical that the general public understand the devastating physical, emotional and financial toll diabetes wreaks every hour, every day, every year on tens of millions of American children, adults and their families," said R. Paul Robertson, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. "Education outreach on prevention of type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications is key to help stop diabetes in its tracks."

In the United States, the American Diabetes Association is the leading non-profit organization in the fight to stop diabetes through diabetes education and prevention in areas such as:

• Diabetes Research - In 2008, the Association provided more than $42.5 million for basic and clinical research, including many projects that focus on prevention of type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications.
• Advocacy - The Association works with federal and state policymakers to secure funding for diabetes research, prevention and treatment programs; improve the availability of accessible, adequate and affordable healthcare; and eliminate discrimination against people with diabetes at school, work, and elsewhere in their lives.
• Professional Outreach and Education - Scientists and health care professionals around the world rely on the American Diabetes Association for information on cutting-edge research and clinical practice recommendations. Resources include the world's largest annual diabetes conference -- Scientific Sessions, professional journals, and education opportunities.
• Consumer Outreach - Americans have come to rely on the Association for critical information on nutrition, exercise, healthy lifestyle choices, diabetes management and prevention through its website, National Call Center (800-DIABETES), consumer publications and at community outreach events across the country.

Stop Diabetes(SM) during American Diabetes Month®
Another way the American Diabetes Association is working towards Diabetes Prevention and Education is with the new movement it launched during American Diabetes Month: Stop Diabetes(SM). Stop Diabetes is the movement to end the devastating toll that diabetes takes on the lives of millions of individuals and families across the United States. It will inspire and mobilize the general public, volunteers, donors, corporations and the scientific and medical communities to rally around the call to "share, act, learn and give." Through these actions, millions will have the chance to get involved and help raise awareness, promote healthy living, and raise money to fund educational outreach, advocacy efforts and critical research that will ultimately stop diabetes once and for all.

American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

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