Michigan took a bold step forward today in its efforts toward combating diabetes by presenting its new Michigan Diabetes Strategic Plan.

The plan, developed by the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Michigan Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, the Michigan Diabetes Strategic Plan Task Force and its Steering Committee addresses issues related to diabetes care and prevention.

"Diabetes is increasingly becoming a public health challenge not only in Michigan, but across the United States - especially among children," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "Michigan's first-ever strategic plan for the treatment and prevention of diabetes will serve as a call to action for all of Michigan's citizens as we work together to create a healthy Michigan by reducing the occurrence of this debilitating disease."

Michigan Surgeon General Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom said the plan also establishes a unified course of action among health care providers, public and private health officials, researchers, businesses, community groups, and people with diabetes to implement the most promising diabetes prevention and control strategies in the most cost-effective ways.

“Simple lifestyle modifications such as healthy eating, moderate exercise, and weight control have conclusively been shown to prevent Type 2 diabetes by up to 60 percent,” Wisdom said. “These solutions are low-tech and low cost, and yet they produce a high impact.”

Some highlights of the report include:

· Expanding diabetes primary prevention activities;

· Developing an ongoing public awareness campaign;

· Developing a statewide diabetes consumer advisory group;

· Reducing diabetes-related health disparities among minority populations, and;

· Providing quality diabetes pregnancy-related care and education to women.

Diabetes, a complex metabolic disease, is increasingly becoming a major public health challenge in the United States and Michigan. Diabetes:

· affects 17 million Americans and more than 750,000 Michigan residents;

· costs the United States $132 billion annually and almost $6 billion per year in Michigan;

· disproportionately affects some groups of people more than others – certain racial/ethnic groups, physically inactive people, overweight people and those who have a family history of the illness

· is becoming more common among children (type 2 diabetes).