New York, 15 nov (EFE).-La Federation Hispanic and Mount Sinai Hospital put up today a campaign on the importance of prevention and early detection of diabetes among latinos, who are about half of the population that suffers from this disease in New York.

“Out more!” Let’s ponder! “Watch out!” is the motto of the campaign during a year will be in New York, even publishing media in major newspapers in Spanish, forums and training physicians and community leaders, reported during a press conference in located at the Harlem hospital Latin.

The campaign, with the support of the Department of health and human services.UU, the Diabetes Association, the Heart Association, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, politicians and several community-based organizations seeks to raise awareness and reduce the epidemic of the disease in the Latino community of New York

Through the integrated communications strategy the public will be oriented to change their eating habits, exercising and call your doctor to be subjected to a test that will detect if you live with the disease, which can be hereditary.

More than 700,000 New Yorkers living with diabetes, which puts the person at risk for heart attack, dialysis and amputations, today warned Dr. Ronald Tamler, director of the Center for Mount Sinai Diabetes.

In Latino neighborhoods, such as East of Harlem, known as El Barrio – a settlement Puerto Rican and in more recent years the new home for Mexican emigrants – and South of the Bronx County, about 20% of the adult population has diabetes, the fifth leading cause of death among latinos in the United States.U.S.

It is estimated that in the United States.UU. There are 18.8 million people who have been diagnosed with the disease and that 7 million do not know that her suffering, epidemic that has become one of the leading causes of death and disability in United States.

In New York, more than 300,000 adults he has been diagnosed, what represents a prevalence rate of 13 per cent, more than double that of the whites, according to data from the American Diabetes Association.UU., a figure which the campaign seeks to reduce.

According to official statistics children latinos also have the highest obesity rates that could lead to that experience more significant growth of cases in the coming decades.

There are various types of diabetes: people with the disease that do not produce enough insulin, is what is known as type I diabetes, while those with diabetes type 2, the body can not properly to her process.

Type 2 diabetes is not curable but can be controlled on medications, which is compounded by habits as a balanced diet and exercise.

“The statistics are staggering and tell a story which threatens the well-being of our community and the future of children.” “Along with the Hispanic Federation, our goal is to explore new approaches, perspectives and ways to reverse the trend and reduce the prevalence,” said Wayne Keathley, President of the hospital

The Group noted with concern during the Conference that it would be practically difficult to find a family in a latino neighborhood that has not been affected by the disease.

Lillian Rodriguez, President of the Hispanic Federation, recalled that her grandmother lived over 40 years with the disease.

“The advantage of this campaign is that it offers a unique opportunity to mobilize and work together with the politicians of the city, health professionals and our Latino organizations non-profit to respond most strongly and effectively to the crisis,” asserted.

Council Member Melissa mark Viverito, representing El Barrio, highlighted that “we will not accept” that reveal the statistics.

“It is important to educate the community that numbers do not continue to grow.” “We have much work ahead and we will not be seated,” reiterated the councilman.

The event, which takes place as part of the international diabetes month, attended the State Assemblyman Robert j. Rodriguez, who also represents the Latin quarter of Harlem, and expressed its concern that one in seven children in schools are suffering from obesity, which can lead them to suffer from diabetes.

“We need a new level of commitment by the Government, our health institutions, agencies of the community and our families to reverse this trend” of the disease, stated.

The campaign seeking to encourage New York Hispanics to change their eating habits and exercise. EFE/file