Actor Chris Noth’s ‘Big’ Push Toward Helping With Diabetes Screening

Mr. Big's Helping Hand in Diabetes Prevention

While tens of millions of Americans are either suffering from diabetes or are in a pre-diabetes state, a large percentage still do not know they have it. Now a new campaign with actor Chris Noth, Mr. Big on “Sex And The City,” is helping raise awareness and encouraging those at risk to get tested.

Now, Noth is helping to encourage Americans to get screened for diabetes, after noticing a friend was in trouble. “A friend of mine was seriously, seriously diabetic and he didn’t know it,” says Noth. “Now, he had some of the obvious signs. He was obese, fatigued. I, at the time, just thought, ‘Go to the gym, dude, go get in shape or something.’ But another friend of ours who happened to be a doctor said, ‘No, no, no, you’ve got to get screened, because this… it’s not just that you are obese. There are other things about this that don’t seem right.'”

Noth is not a diabetic himself, but watching his friend turn his health around after getting a diagnosis spurred him to lend his image to the “Ask.Screen.Know.” campaign sponsored by health care company Novo Nordisk.

According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 25 million Americans have diabetes, but nearly one third do not know it. The “Ask.Screen.Know.” campaign encourages more people to learn the risk factors and get tested, especially adults 45 and older, in keeping with ADA guidelines.

Screening is especially important because the earlier doctors can make a diagnosis, the earlier they can start treatment to help prevent what can be serious complications of diabetes. Those can include stroke, heart disease, blindness, amputations, neurological problems and kidney failure.

To find out more, visit askscreenknow.com. Senior citizens often qualify to get screened for free. Experience uplifting diabetes education, encouragement and empowerment go to: divabetic.org