One in six West Virginians is now diabetic. One in four 11-year-olds in W.Va. is diabetic. "Type 2 diabetes is exploding right in front of us, yet people act like nothing unusual is going on. It's bizarre," says Parkersburg native Dr. Frank Schwartz, who directs Ohio University's diabetes program.

"This is a well-recognized epidemic that affects a quarter million West Virginians. Our childhood diabetes trend is stunning. And there seems to be no end in sight." -- Evan Jenkins, director, The West Virginia State Medical Association

"About 70 percent of my patient visits are about diabetes issues. It's so far beyond anything you would expect. If I had 25 percent, I'd think it was normal." -- Elaine Moore, Parsons family practice physician

"The number of type 2 diabetics is growing beyond anything we can possibly affect if we don't get ahead of this problem." -- Arnie Vaughn, pharmacist, past president, West Virginia Diabetes Educators Association

"It used to be that you didn't see Type 2 diabetes till after the age of 30. Now there are type 2 diabetics who are nine years old. I have taken care of a 250-pound nine-year-old diabetic." -- Barbara Weaner, nurse practitioner, Elkins

"Twenty five to 40 percent of all patients we see now have diabetes. It's increasing rapidly. Every day, we see people who have diabetes and don't know it. We see small kids with type 2 diabetes. This is an enormous problem." -- Vicki Chase, RN, Coordinator, Diabetes Education, WVU Hospitals