Kentucky has the 4th highest death rate from diabetes in the US, but diabetes can be prevented or delayed. In recognition of March 22nd’s Diabetes Alert Day, eastern Kentuckians share stories of reducing their risk or controlling diabetes through participation in National Diabetes Prevention Programs or with lifestyle changes made on their own. One in 7 Kentuckians has diabetes, that’s over 13% of adults, and 17% in Appalachian Kentucky. Another 11% of Kentuckians have prediabetes, a condition that is often unrecognized but which can be prevented or slowed with diet and exercise.

You can listen to these and other stories any time on the website www.preventdiabeteseky.org.  Once there you can take a quiz to see if you might be prediabetic, search by county to find diabetes prevention programs in Eastern Kentucky, and locate other resources.  Prevent Diabetes EKY is a public health collaboration between Appalshop, WMMT-FM and the Kentucky Department for Public Health.