Diabetes Window Stickers to the Rescue

Diabetes Alert Window Sticker

Tennessee has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country. Over 13% of people there are suffering from this chronic condition. As addition to a Diabetes Medical ID and wallet cards that diabetics have to alert emergency responders of their health situation, now they will have car stickers too.

My Diabetes Alert started in three counties of northeast Tennessee, Hawkins, Washington and Sullivan in November 2009. Over 2000 stickers have been distributed to these high diabetes concentration counties with around 16% of population affected. Victims having a diabetic attack may be dizzy, nervous, agitated, confused, drowsy, have fruity breath or start to vomit. Jim Perkins, diabetes program director for Wellmont and a member of the state diabetes advisory council stated how important it is for law enforcement to be aware of these symptoms and to educate community.

Baptist Hospital in Nashville and Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro are leading the local sticker program. The hospitals stated that over 10 000 people would be eligible to get the sticker. To sign on for the program, diagnosed diabetics should submit documentation from the doctor.

In case of erratic driving on the street, these stickers will assure that police and emergency responders are aware that a person driving the car could be having a diabetic attack. For diabetic patients, quick care is a matter of life and death, and car stickers will improve their chances of getting that help in time.

In addition to stickers, the Diabetes Alert program assures that law enforcement officers get pocket cards on recognizing the symptoms. Lt. Teddy Douglas with the Tennessee Highway Patrol believes that it is a great thing that will help law enforcement officers to do their job better, and help medical professionals provide quicker help to diabetic patients on crash scenes too.

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Diabetics can get free car stickers