KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Today, King County Executive Ron Sims joined with community leaders and health care providers to raise awareness about the issue of diabetes in our community and outline prevention and management steps that people can take to benefit their health.

"Diabetes is a serious health problem that many people don't know that they have," said Executive Sims. "World Diabetes Day provides an opportunity for all of us to become aware of the dangers it poses." Approximately 67,500 King County residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, and it is estimated that an additional 33,750 residents have the disease but have not been diagnosed.

"Diabetes may lead to serious health complications including kidney failure, loss of limbs and blindness, so it's essential that the illness be diagnosed and managed correctly," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "And there are many steps people can take to prevent getting diabetes or delaying its onset."

Joining the Executive at today's press conference were members of REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health), a local coalition dedicated to reducing the disparities in diabetes in communities of color. REACH provides education and management classes, as well as support groups and case coordination to help its clients cope with this disease. Other attendees at the press conference included former State Senator Jeannette Wood, who has diabetes, and representatives of the American Diabetes Association, and the Optometric Physicians of Washington.

Diabetes is a particular problem in the African American community and other communities of color in King County. In particular, in King County, 8.6% of African Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 4.0% of white residents.

At the press conference, Senator Wood demonstrated the use of A1C, which is a testing device designed to monitor long-term glucose levels. This long-term view of glucose levels helps determine optimal therapy and improves clinical outcomes.

Diabetes educators and advocates are using the occasion of National Diabetes Day to launch the "Aim, Believe, Achieve: The Diabetes A1C Initiative" campaign at events at seventeen locations nationwide, including King County. The focus of the campaign is proper management of diabetes through control of blood glucose levels.

• For additional information on the REACH program visit www.metrokc.gov/health/reach
• Additional information and resources may be found at the Washington State Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/diabetes
• Vision problems are a frequent complication of diabetes. For more information on eyecare programs for underserved populations visit the Optometric Physicians of Washington at www.eyes.org