If one in three American adults have prediabetes (higher than normal blood sugar levels) and are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, how can we prevent the onset of this chronic disease together?
Only about 12% of prediabetic people are aware of their condition and their increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Many with prediabetes can be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within only 5 years.
Studies suggest that if most people knew they were at risk of developing this serious chronic disease and could take action to prevent it—they would start right away.
How do I find out if I’m prediabetic?
Age, weight, activity level, blood pressure, and family history are all factors in your risk of being prediabetic and developing type 2 diabetes.
Use this simple online tool to find out if you may have prediabetes. You may want to do this with loved ones you are concerned about, especially those over 60.
If these tests show that you are likely prediabetic, you can find out for sure by:
- Asking your doctor’s office if your most recent blood test shows if you are prediabetic, or check your test results on myD-H against the normal range.
- If you haven’t had a blood test recently, ask your doctor to order one to test your blood glucose (sugar) levels.
If I am prediabetic, what can I do to reduce my risk of developing type 2 diabetes?
Modest lifestyle changes can help prevent you from developing this chronic disease. These include:
- Eating well for your condition
- Frequent physical activity
- Losing five to seven percent of your body weight (10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person)
- Managing stress
This can be hard to do because many of us don’t know the best ways to make and stick with these changes. Day to day struggles can get in the way, even when faced with serious health problems type 2 diabetes leads to, like blindness, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and loss of toes, feet, or legs. This is why the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) designed a program that has already helped thousands of people across America prevent type 2 diabetes.
We can do this together: Cheshire Diabetes Prevention Program
If you could benefit from some support making lasting health changes, you are not alone.
Together, Cheshire Medical Center and the Keene Family YMCA offer the CDC’s yearlong Diabetes Prevention Program.
A trained lifestyle coach will teach you how to eat healthily, add physical activity to your routine, manage stress, stay motivated, and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes. The program’s group setting provides a supportive environment with people facing similar challenges.
For the first 6 months, your group meets weekly with the lifestyle coach, then once or twice a month for the next 6 months to help you maintain your healthy changes. The entire yearlong program costs only $99, which is a small investment compared to the medical bills associated with type 2 diabetes.
Call 603-354-6866 to sign up or learn more.
Find program information here, or call 603-354-6866. Only people with prediabetes or high-risk factors for prediabetes qualify for this program. They can help you find out if you qualify.