American Diabetes Association continues to raise awareness as celebratory month nears

ALEXANDRIA, Va. American Diabetes Month will be celebrated this November, and the group leading the fight to end the disease is encouraging others to join the movement.

Shortly after announcing that "Celebrity Apprentice" winner and Poison frontman Bret Michaels joined its "Stop Diabetes" movement, the American Diabetes Association has launched the "Share Your Vision to Stop Diabetes" video contest, and has asked Americans to:

• Become advocates for the cause;


• Learn how to survive the holidays;


• Give their time and passion; or


• Donate funds to support diabetes research, information and advocacy programs.

With nearly 24 million children and adults afflicted with the disease in the United States — and an additional 57 million at risk for Type 2 diabetes — diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, the association said.