Imagine if there was a way you could better your chances of preventing type 2 diabetes; well there is and it all starts with a doctors visit to see if you have a condition called pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is when a person’s blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as diabetes.
As with any preventative measure, the sooner you find out if you have pre-diabetes the better your chances at prevention. Having this condition puts you at risk for serious health problems including type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
You can contact your local YMCA to find out more about Diabetes Prevention Program support groups that may be in your area. Additionally, there is a CDC led National Diabetes Prevention Program that assists with preventing type 2 diabetes among people at high risk. Over 625 organizations offer the program nationally.
National Diabetes Prevention Program is an evidence-based lifestyle change program for preventing type 2 diabetes. The year-long program helps participants make real lifestyle changes such as eating healthier, including physical activity in their daily lives, and improving problem-solving and coping skills. Participants meet with a trained lifestyle coach and a small group of people who are making lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes. Sessions are weekly for 6 months and then monthly for six months.
More organizations are coming on board every day to meet the growing demand for effective programs to help adults prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The National Diabetes Prevention Program encourages collaboration among federal agencies, community-based organizations, employers, insurers, health care professionals, academia, and other stakeholders to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among people with pre-diabetes in the United States.
