Discovery Familia launches campaign for American Diabetes Month

Diabetes affects approximately 26 million Americans, and among those diagnosed with the disease are Hispanic adults. With approximately 11.8 percent of Hispanic adults diagnosed with diabetes, the disease is growing rapidly throughout Hispanic communities across the United States.

November is American Diabetes Month and to support awareness of the disease, Discovery Familia is launching a campaign in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) with the goal of providing awareness to the Hispanic community about this rapidly growing disease. The initiative will include special programming, a series of spots and infographics developed specifically to provide information on this timely topic.

Presented by Dr. Selene Velasco, Discovery Familia's health expert, the spots will air in November during the network's evening programming. They will offer key information on the risk factors of type 2 diabetes, its symptoms, as well as the means for its prevention. Dr. Velasco shares, “It is estimated that Hispanics are almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes”. To combat the ever-rising numbers of those diagnosed with the disease, Discovery Familia is dedicated to educating all about prevention and care.

As part of this collaborative project, Discovery Familia is presenting “Cara a cara con la obesidad,” a series that analyzes the global obesity epidemic and its consequences. In it, diabetes is studied by following four overweight families who travel to different parts of the world where the levels of obesity are extremely high. The series introduces cases including ones in which people cannot be weighed on a regular scale, shows some who run the risk of inheriting diabetes because of family histories, spotlights others who are addicted to junk food, and reveals the struggles of those who weigh three times their healthy weight. “Cara a cara con la obesidad” airs Saturday at 10 p.m. on Discovery Familia.

Discovery Familia is also offers statistics, resources and information specific to the topic of type 2 diabetes. This valuable insight includes symptoms of and treatment for diabetes, as well as practical advice on nutrition and physical activities through infographics. Another collaborative resource for those already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is the ADA’s free program, “Living with Type 2 Diabetes” that offers education about proper care and healthier living.