Grant Will Fund Chicago Latino Outreach Program and National Latino Outreach Toolkit CHICAGO, June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA) was recently awarded a $450,000 grant from Abbott Fund to support the ADA's Chicago Latino Outreach program and the National Latino Outreach Toolkit. Diabetes is an urgent health problem in the Latino community. The rate of diabetes amongst Hispanics is almost double that of non-Latino whites. Getting information to this community about the seriousness of diabetes, its risk factors, those who may be at risk and ways to help manage the disease is essential. This grant will provide assistance to ADA in their efforts to create awareness and combat diabetes in the Latino community. "The American Diabetes Association is honored to receive this generous award from Abbott Fund," states Nancy Harris, senior executive director of ADA. "Latinos are the largest ethnic minority group in metropolitan Chicago and across the country. They also represent a population that suffers greatly from diabetes," continues Harris. "This grant will help the ADA advance our programs to reach the Latino community, and continue our outreach efforts to help improve the quality of life for Latinos with diabetes." "Diabetes is a serious and costly health care crisis that disproportionately impacts the Latino community. As part of our ongoing effort to expand access to health care, we are excited to work with the ADA to help close the gap in diabetes awareness and treatment in this at-risk population," said Catherine V. Babington, president, Abbott Fund. Abbott Fund is the presenting sponsor of the National Latino Outreach Toolkit, and also is the presenting sponsor of ADA's Chicago Latino Outreach program for two years. This is a collaborative effort between the American Diabetes Association and the Latino community to proactively fight diabetes. The Latino outreach program provides the community with workshops focusing on effective everyday diabetes self-management and healthy lifestyles for individuals with diabetes, those at risk and their families. The National Latino Outreach Toolkit will contain specific materials that address the needs of Latinos in attaining a healthier lifestyle such as: proper nutrition, physical activity and guidance on how to obtain the best healthcare. Diabetes is one of this nation's most prevalent, debilitating, deadly and costly diseases, affecting nearly 21 million children and adults in the United States. One in three Americans -- and one in two minorities -- born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be $174 billion. About ADA The American Diabetes Association is the nation's premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country, providing services to hundreds of communities. Its mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please visit http://www.diabetes.org/ or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish. DATASOURCE: Abbott CONTACT: Kenya Harris of The American Diabetes Association, +1-312-346-1805, ext. 6571, Web site: http://www.abbott.com/

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