New Mexicans urged to prevent and manage diabetes during November awareness month

SANTA FE - During Diabetes Awareness Month, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) encourages New Mexicans to take advantage of the free programs the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program offers to help prevent and manage diabetes and other chronic conditions.

"We encourage New Mexicans to enroll in these free services, many of them done virtually, and in English and Spanish, to learn the risk factors of diabetes, how to prevent it, and, if diagnosed, how to manage it," said Acting Secretary David R. Scrase, MD. "Preventing and managing diabetes are key to improving the overall health and quality of life for so many New Mexicans."

NMDOH estimates more than 249,000 New Mexican adults have diabetes and more than 536,000 New Mexicans have prediabetes. It is common for people to have prediabetes and not be aware. Prediabetes means a person's blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes, a serious disease that can be accompanied by other health conditions such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. People can prevent type 2 diabetes by acting early and by taking a risk test.

NMDOH offers the prediabetes risk test, the National Diabetes Prevention Program which includes working with a trained lifestyle coach, classes on nutrition for people with diabetes, and the Diabetes Self-Management Program at no cost to New Mexicans. To sign up for these services, New Mexicans can visit the Paths to Health NM: Tools for a Healthier Living Programs website: https://www.pathstohealthnm.org/. They may also call the Wellness Referral Center at 505-850-0176 or 575-703-2343 Monday-Friday 8am-4pm.You and your family members could have prediabetes and be at risk for type 2 diabetes if you have any of the following risk factors:

** Age 40 years or older

** Overweight

** Family history of Type 2 Diabetes

** High blood pressure

** Physically active fewer than three times a week

** A history of gestational diabetes

The NMDOH Diabetes Prevention and Control Program works with community-based partners to bring these services to New Mexicans throughout the state. Learn more about the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at https://www.nmhealth.org/about/phd/pchb/dpcp/. To draw awareness to the seriousness of prediabetes and diabetes, during Diabetes Awareness Month, the Governor's mansion will be lit up from dusk to dawn in blue starting November 1st.

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