American Public Health Association Supports National Plan to Reduce Diabetes Among Women

3/25/2003

From: David Fouse of the American Public Health Association, 202-777-2501

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- The American Public Health Association (APHA) today announced support for a national plan of action to prevent and control diabetes among U.S. women, a growing public health epidemic. Diabetes, a leading cause of death in the United States, affects an estimated 17 million Americans, more than half of whom are women.

The National Agenda for Public Health Action: The National Public Health Initiative on Diabetes and Women's Health calls for expanding community-based health education programs, promotes risk assessment, supports quality care and self-management for diabetes and its complications, and encourages research into additional factors that influence diabetes and women's health.

"We are very pleased to support this initiative that will work to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes among women," said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, executive director of APHA. "Women disproportionately carry this disease burden, especially women of color. This disparity contributes to the high prevalence of heart disease, kidney disease and blindness among this population."

APHA is a cosponsor of the initiative, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Diabetes Association and Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The National Agenda is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/english.htm.

APHA is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals and represents more than 50,000 members from over 50 public health occupations.