New Prediabetes Awareness Campaign Features Animal Videos

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Building on a successful campaign that helped hundreds of thousands of Americans learn their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through campaign messaging and an online risk test, the first-of-its-kind initiative to raise national awareness of prediabetes returns with an entertaining new approach. The new campaign encourages viewers to take a one-minute prediabetes risk test to know where they stand and discover how they can decrease their risk of developing type 2 diabetes — and it does so with some adorable helpers.

More than one in three American adults has prediabetes — a serious health condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes and other significant health conditions like blindness, heart attack, or stroke. According to newly released CDC data, however, nearly 90{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of the 84 million people with prediabetes don’t know they have it and aren’t aware of the long-term risks to their health. Currently, about 30 million Americans are living with diabetes.

The new campaign, once again developed pro bono by Ogilvy New York for the Ad Council campaign, features puppies, hedgehogs, and baby goats. The new, lighthearted PSAs offer viewers a chance to learn where they stand by taking the one-minute prediabetes risk test while also doing something everyone loves — watching cute animal videos. The campaign highlights that it’s important to speak with a doctor and visit doihaveprediabetes.org to learn more about prediabetes.

The positive message behind the campaign is that prediabetes can often be reversed by making everyday lifestyle changes. Diagnosis is key, as research shows that people who are aware of their condition are more likely to make the necessary long-term lifestyle changes that can help delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. This includes losing weight and adopting new habits such as healthy eating and physical activity. Prediabetes can be a health wake-up call for many.

“Through this campaign, we want to not only ensure that more people learn whether they have prediabetes, but we also want to emphasize the importance of talking with their physician as soon as they discover they may be at risk for the condition,” said AMA President Dr. David Barbe. “After taking the risk test, we encourage anyone who learns they may be at risk for prediabetes to consult their doctor to confirm their diagnosis and learn about lifestyle changes that will help them prevent type 2 diabetes.”