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The campaign, which is sponsored by HHS' Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), emphasizes that women -- the family's primary caregivers -- can make a positive difference to the whole family's health, including their own.

As part of the kickoff, about 500 local screening events also will take place in 10 key cities where residents have a high incidence of diabetes. Local pharmacies will offer free risk assessment and clinical testing, free educational materials and a Diabetic Management Kit.

"Women need to recognize that diabetes is a growing health hazard they can and should do something about," Secretary Thompson said. "Because more than 5 million people are undiagnosed, we want women, who serve as primary caregivers in the family, to learn about the early signs of diabetes and see their doctor about detection."

Today, about 9 million women have diabetes, including an estimated 3 million women who do not even know they have the disease. Women are at somewhat higher risk than men for diabetes and pre-diabetes -- disorders that can lead to complications such as heart attack or stroke, as well as blindness, kidney disease and loss of limbs. (Pre-diabetes occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.)

"This campaign will help women recognize the warning signs for diabetes, so that they and their families can take proactive steps to improve their health," said FDA Deputy Commissioner Dr. Lester M. Crawford. "Armed with the key facts, all Americans can take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes and to ensure that they get appropriate, effective treatments once diagnosed."

Today's announcement is part of HHS' weeklong effort to highlight disease prevention as the primary way that Americans can improve their health and personal well-being while reducing their health care costs. Secretary Thompson has made disease prevention and health promotion a top priority, and the President's budget for fiscal year 2003 proposes a $20 million new pilot program, "Healthy Communities," to help deliver community-wide prevention support. Overall, HHS would spend more than $16 billion for all disease prevention activities under the President's budget.

Diabetes affects the body's ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose to enter the cells and be used for energy. Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy and raises women's risks of heart attacks and strokes, as well as blindness, kidney failure and loss of limbs.

"With the nation facing a growing epidemic of diabetes, pharmacists are critical not only to helping patients manage their disease, but also providing information about risks," said Craig L. Fuller, NACDS president and CEO. "We are partnering with the FDA and the ADA in this national campaign because nearly one in 10 women over 20 have diabetes, but one-third are unaware they have the disease. It is imperative they understand their risk factors and we encourage them to participate in over 250 free diabetes risk assessment events that will be conducted at chain pharmacies in 10 cites from May 28 to June 22."

"The Take Time to Care" campaign is an important collaborative effort to get valuable health information out to women who are at risk or who have diabetes," said Anne Daly, president, Healthcare & Education, ADA. "The American Diabetes Association is proud to be part of this important public awareness effort."

The main tools of the campaign -- diabetes-related brochures, wallet-sized calendars, and cards with recipes for nutritious meals -- will be distributed in grocery stores and pharmacies in the 10 cities: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Philadelphia. The brochures are being provided in English and Spanish. NACDS alone will distribute 5 million brochures.

The brochure highlights the warning signs that women need to recognize including fatigue, frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss and irritability. Recurring skin, gum, and bladder infections, blurred vision, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal are also potential signs and symptoms.

Three key messages are highlighted:

• Get tested for diabetes,
• Watch what you eat and get exercise,
• Use medicines wisely.

Additional information about the "Take Time to Care" campaign will be available on a newly created website www.fda.gov/womens/taketimetocare/diabetes. The site provides information about the campaign and diabetes and is being linked to the websites of all the partners and HHS agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Consumer information about diabetes is available through the National Diabetes Education Program, an effort sponsored jointly by NIH and CDC, and 200 public and private partners, at www.ndep.nih.gov/, or from the ADA at www.diabetes.org or by calling 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).

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