In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, Sweet'N Low®, America's iconic zero-calorie 'pink' sweetener, has joined forces with gold medalist, Dominique Dawes, to educate consumers about the growing epidemic. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), nearly 26 million American's have diabetes, 7 million of whom are currently undiagnosed. It is estimated that another 79 million people are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. By the year 2050, current trends forecast that one in three American adults will have diabetes.
"I am very excited to be joining forces with my favorite sugar substitute, Sweet'N Low, encouraging people to get screened and build awareness around such an important cause," said Dominique Dawes. "With a history of diabetes in my family, I am aware of the severe effects of the disease and am very pleased to assist in educating Americans about the importance of early detection and appropriate treatment."
As the only modern American gymnast to compete and medal in three Olympic games (1992, 1996, 2000), Dominique Dawes is an inspirational athlete. As an advocate for health, she is also seen as an inspiration out of the gym.
During the month of November, Sweet'N Low and Ms. Dawes will host free diabetes screenings in New York and Washington D.C. The screenings will be provided to help inform Americans about the significance of diabetes and assess their medical condition. The screenings will include a glucose test and questionnaire to identify symptom's and recognized risk factors, in addition to Dominique discussing the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
"For over 50 years, Sweet'N Low has helped Americans cut calories and manage carbohydrate intake while still enjoying their favorite sweet foods and beverages. With just 1 gram of carbohydrate per serving, Sweet'N Low will not raise blood sugar and is a great option," said Steven Eisenstadt CEO of Cumberland Packing Corp., the manufacturer of Sweet'N Low. "We are thrilled to be working with the dynamic, talented athlete and health proponent Dominique Dawes, to raise awareness about diabetes and put the focus on prevention and treatment."
According to the ADA, every 17 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes. The gravity of this health crisis has spurred Sweet'N Low and Dominique Dawes to get involved and help bring awareness and encourage all Americans to get screened.
Global gap in diabetes prevalence and treatment has widened since 1990