KING COUNTY, WA - As part of the national effort during American Diabetes Month to increase public awareness on diabetes and stem this increasingly-common disease, Public Health - Seattle & King County is announcing the launch of the REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) Coalition webpages, with information on diabetes prevention, resources and community-based health activities and organizations.

"The diabetes webpages will allow our residents convenient access to useful and culturally-sensitive diabetes information and services," said King County Executive Ron Sims.

Please visit the REACH Coalition diabetes webpages at: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/reach

These webpages include information on:

• diabetes in general, including explanation of the different types of diabetes, diagnosis and control
• services and activities for communities of color, which are populations disproportionately affected by diabetes

"Through healthy eating and physical activity, people can prevent diabetes," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Additionally, those with diabetes can improve their quality of life through effective management of the disease."

In King County:

• diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death and a major cause of chronic illness and disability. The death rate for diabetes has increased by 50% since 1987.
• 3.5% of the adult population (approximately 44,000 persons) has diabetes, and among those age 65 years and older, 7.3% has diabetes.
• low-income persons are twice as likely to have diabetes than persons of higher incomes.
• diabetes is more common among African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. The death rate among African Americans is four times the rate for whites.
• one out of two persons is overweight, and a similar proportion does not engage in regular physical activity. Overweight and lack of physical activity increase the risk of developing diabetes.

Since minority racial and ethnic groups are hardest hit by the disease, the REACH Coalition, with a grant funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is currently conducting activities to enhance diabetes control. These activities include support groups and education classes in the African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian American/Pacific Islander American populations. Please visit the REACH Coalition webpages for more information and sites.

For more information on American Diabetes Month, please visit the American Diabetes Association at: http://www.diabetes.org