Pre-Diabetes: Am I at risk?
Many factors increase your risk for Pre-Diabetes and type 2 diabetes. To find out more about your risk, see which factor applies to you.
It is important to find out early if you have Pre-Diabetes or type 2 diabetes, because early treatment can prevent serious complications of diabetes such as loss of eyesight or kidney damage, neuropathy, amputation, or early death. |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 of every 3 U.S. adults had
Pre-Diabetes in 2010. That is 79 million Americans aged 20 years or older. The vast majority of people living with Pre-Diabetes do not know they have it. People with Pre-Diabetes have blood glucose (blood sugar) levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. These people are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, the leading causes of death in the U.S.. If you have Pre-Diabetes, you are 5 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with normal blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. When you take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes, you also lower your risk for possible complications of diabetes such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, and other health problems. If you are 45 years of age or older, you should consider getting a blood test from a health care provider for Pre-Diabetes and diabetes, especially if you are overweight. If your test results indicate you have Pre-Diabetes you should enroll in an evidence-based lifestyle program to lower your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. Studies show that people with Pre-Diabetes can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by losing just 5% to 7% of their weight—that is 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person. Weight loss should be achieved by making lasting lifestyle changes to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. (Diet & exercise...) If your blood test showed you have Pre-Diabetes you should also have your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels checked again in 6 months to 1 year. Find out if you could have Pre-Diabetes by taking the screening test on the top left of this page. If the test shows you could have Pre-Diabetes get started on our 4 WEEK - EXERCISE IS MEDICINE plan, and talk to your Doctor as soon as possible. |