A government-sponsored diabetes education group launched a new campaign on Tuesday to address what they say is one of the nation’s growing health problems: diabetes among the elderly.

Dr. James Gavin, III, chairman of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), explained that almost 1 in 5 older adults in the U.S. has type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the condition, which is linked to obesity.

Given that older adults are a fast-growing segment of the U.S. population, diabetes has become an “absolutely explosive epidemic” in this group, Gavin noted.

To address the situation, the NDEP has launched a campaign to promote diabetes awareness and provide older adults with tips to reduce their risk.

Most importantly, Gavin said, the program addresses the crucial role of exercise and diet in reducing the risk of diabetes.

For instance, recent research shows that a modest amount of exercise 30 minutes per day, five days per week, can make a big difference in reducing the risk of diabetes, Gavin said.

Moreover, losing a modest amount of weight - for most people, 7 to 15 pounds over a 2-year period - decreases the risk by 70 percent, he added. “You don’t have to lose a tremendous amount of weight,” he said.

These simple lifestyle changes - which can reduce the risk of serious diabetes complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputations - form the crux of the program, called “Small Steps, Big Rewards,” Gavin told Reuters Health.

The program includes public service advertisements, a publicity campaign, booklets with information about diabetes and practical tips for prevention, and tools to help people start a weight loss program.

The campaign was launched on Tuesday from a local YMCA in Florida. Gavin explained that older adults can get information about the campaign by calling 1-800-438-5383 or visiting the NDEP web site, at http://www.ndep.nih.gov.

The NDEP is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as by partners in the private and public sector. Gavin noted that the NDEP has 240 partners, including professional societies, institutions, and agencies that have agreed to help distribute information about the campaign.