SANTA FE - The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) joins the American Diabetes Association in recognizing Tuesday, March 23 as “Diabetes Alert Day”. The annual health observance encourages New Mexicans and others nationwide to take a quick, free online Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test and learn if they need to take action that could prevent or delay this condition.

Family history of diabetes, race/ethnicity, higher body weight, increasing age, smoking, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and a history of gestational diabetes are all risk factors for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. To access the free one minute anonymous Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test, visit PathstoHealthNM.org

The Department of Health estimates that more than 245,000 New Mexican adults have diabetes and over 535,000 New Mexican adults have prediabetes, a condition that precedes type 2 diabetes where the blood glucose levels are higher than normal.

Only three in ten adults in the state know they have prediabetes, which prevents them from taking important steps to prevent or delay diabetes.

NMDOH’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program supports several programs for New Mexicans to prevent and manage prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity. The programs, offered through the Paths to Health NM: Tools for Healthier Livinginitiative, are proven to work and improve quality of life. For more information on the program, visit PathstoHealthNM.org or call (505) 850-0176 or (575) 703-2343.