For Immediate Release

printable version

May 6, 2008
Contact: Devin Dinkel, Communications Specialist
National Association of School Nurses
8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 420
Silver Spring, MD  20910

NASN Supports the National Diabetes Goal

(Silver Spring, MD)   On May 7, 2008, the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), along with 20 other organizations, will gather in Washington, D.C. to support a new unified goal designed to reverse the upward trend of diabetes in the United States.  The National Diabetes Goal calls for the following:  By 2015, 45% of Americans who are at risk for type 2 diabetes will know their blood glucose level and what actions to take. 

Diabetes is becoming an increasingly serious health problem for many Americans.  According to a new Gallup® survey, commissioned by Novo Nordisk’s National Changing Diabetes Program, more than 90% of Americans consider diabetes a serious health issue, and half say they feel personally affected by diabetes.  However, awareness has not yet translated into collective, widespread action.  Because of this, the National Diabetes Goal encourages Americans to take on a three-step action plan by: 

1. Finding out if they are at risk for type 2 diabetes,
2. Asking about getting their blood glucose tested at their next doctor’s visit, and
3. Knowing their blood glucose level and what actions they need to take.

Type 2 diabetes does not only affect adults, but children as well. Childhood diabetes has increased 10 fold in the past 20 years.  Up to 30% of children are overweight and childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 25 years.  School nurses contribute to the nation’s goals of health promotion and disease prevention by teaching and encouraging healthy lifestyles and habits that have lifelong implications for children, their families, and the community.  

National Diabetes Goal
The National Diabetes Goal is supported by an online resource that outlines the background and purpose of the goal and provides resources for consumers and stakeholders to respond to the call to action.  For more information and for a list of participating organizations, please visit www.NationalDiabetesGoal.com. 

NASN
The National Association of School Nurses is a non-profit specialty nursing organization, incorporated in 1977, which represents school nurses exclusively.  NASN has over 13,000 members and 51 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and overseas.  The mission of the NASN is “to advance the delivery of professional school health services to promote optimal health and learning in students.”  To learn more about NASN, please visit us on the web at www.nasn.org or call 866-627-6767.

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