Contact:
Marilee Kadar
Lions Clubs International
630-468-6867
E-mail: Marilee.Kadar@lionsclubs.org

For Immediate Release

Lions Recognize Diabetes Awareness Month in November

OAK BROOK, Illinois, USA, October 18, 2007 – Lions Diabetes Awareness Program and the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are partnering to promote National Diabetes Awareness Month in November and World Diabetes Day (November 14).

Any Lions Clubs in the United States may join in NDEP’s new campaign, “One Call, One Click,” to obtain free diabetes publications from NDEP, a leading source of diabetes information developed for consumers and health care professionals. Materials are easy to obtain: just “one call” to 1-888-693-NDEP (6337), Monday through Friday, 8-4 p.m. (EST) or “one click” to the NDEP website at www.YourDiabetesInfo.org will take Lions to an array of valuable resources on diabetes prevention and control. Materials are also available in Spanish and 15 Asian and Pacific Islander languages, and include brochures, posters, tip sheets, booklets, public service announcements, sample newsletters text and more. The Spanish-language materials are available at: www.diabetesinformacion.org. This information will enable Lions to promote diabetes prevention and control and offer life-saving information to children, teens and adults.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. It affects an estimated 74.8 million Americans, or one in three adults, of whom 54 million have pre-diabetes, 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, and 6.2 million are undiagnosed and at risk for disabling and life threatening diabetes complications. Worldwide, diabetes currently affects 246 million people and is expected to affect 380 million by 2025. Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of global death by disease. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss in adults of working age (20 – 65 years) in industrialized countries.

LCI established the Diabetes Awareness Program to assist Lions in conducting and supporting local and large-scale efforts leading to the control and treatment of diabetes and its complications through education, prevention and control and research. Lions have worked with community healthcare organizations to provide diabetes screenings, educational programs and funding, camps, and other assistance to people with diabetes.

LCI and NDEP are partnering together to make a difference in diabetes prevention and control and raise the public’s awareness of this growing world epidemic.

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world with 1.3 million members in 201 countries and geographic areas. Founded in 1917, Lions are a worldwide network of men and women who meet the needs of their local communities. Known for working together to end preventable blindness, Lions provide many services, such as conducting vision, hearing and health screenings, building parks and hospitals, awarding scholarships, assisting youth, helping in time of disaster and much more. For more information, visit www.lionsclubs.org

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