Eighty four million Americans have prediabetes. Are you one?
Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal (but not as high as type 2 diabetes). Prediabetes put you at increased risk of heart disease, and stroke as well as developing type 2 diabetes.
Because there are no clear symptoms of prediabetes, 90% who have it . . . don’t know it.
It’s important to talk to your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested if you have any of these risk factors for prediabetes:
- Overweight
- 45 years or older
- A parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
- Physically active less than 3 times a week
- Have had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or given birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (a hormonal condition that often affects insulin use and production in the body)
The good news: If you have prediabetes, you won’t automatically develop type 2 diabetes. Early treatment and lifestyle changes can prevent type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems.
How can you reduce your risk? Losing 7% of your body weight (that’s 15 pounds if you weigh 200) and exercising moderately 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes by 58%. (It drops by 71% if you’re over age 60). Research also shows that managing stress and depression can help lower blood sugar levels.
Still wondering if it’s you? Talk with your health care provider.
To learn more – and take the CDC’s prediabetes quiz – visit https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html