Today, the Department of Health joined the American Diabetes Association for Alert Day and encouraged Washingtonians to take the Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test to know their risk.

“Alert Day is a one day ‘wake-up call’ that aims to get as many people as possible to take the Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing the disease,” said Dr. Cheryl Farmer, Washington State Department of Health.

In Washington state, about two million adults are thought to have prediabetes, meaning their blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

“The unsettling thing about the two million adults with prediabetes is that most don’t know they have it. Only one out of 12 people with prediabetes know they have it. By learning if you have prediabetes you can take action to lower your risk of developing diabetes,” said Farmer.

Diabetes also disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities in Washington state. The prevalence of diabetes in American Indians/Alaska Natives (17 percent) is more than double that of Caucasians (7 percent).

Healthy choices can lower the risk of getting diabetes: avoid tobacco use, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program is available in many locations statewide. To find a program, visit the Washington Information Network 211.

The Department of Health’s State Health Assessment provides a snapshot of the overall health and well-being of Washington state residents, and diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the state.

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