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The American Diabetes Association applauds First Lady Michelle Obama’s childhood obesity campaign Let’s Move! America’s Move for a Healthier Generation.  The Association was present during today’s announcement at the White House.

Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes.  If current trends in childhood obesity continue, nearly one in three American children born in the year 2000 (and one in two minorities) will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime.  Diabetes is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, blindness, amputation, and kidney disease, as well as death.  Diabetes costs our country more than $174 billion a year.

“Diabetes is both personally devastating and extraordinarily costly,” commented Richard Bergenstal, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. 

“But it doesn’t have to be like this.  Many times type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications can be prevented.  That is why the American Diabetes Association is grateful to the First Lady for highlighting the childhood obesity epidemic.  The Association has pledged to join the campaign and work to stop diabetes before it affects our youth.  We simply cannot accept that one in three of today’s children face a future with diabetes and its serious and deadly consequences.”

The American Diabetes Association provides prevention initiatives on the national, state and local levels.  Advocacy efforts focus on clinical preventive services such as early detection; community preventive services, like education initiatives; and research funding.  The Association also works in communities to deliver education outreach to at-risk populations and people with diabetes.