Prediabetes affects 84 million Americans and has lasting health outcomes, but luckily it can be reversed. Learning your risk is the first step to a healthier future.
While many people know that type 2 diabetes is a serious health concern, far fewer people know about prediabetes. Prediabetes is a serious but reversible condition that affects 84 million (more than 1 in 3) American adults. Without healthy lifestyle changes, prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes.
People with prediabetes have higher than normal blood glucose (sugar) levels but not high enough yet to be considered type 2 diabetes. Essentially, when you have prediabetes, you are on your way to developing type 2 diabetes and are also at increased risk for other serious health problems such as stroke and heart disease. Nearly 90 percent of people with prediabetes don’t even know they have it.
The good news is that with the right steps, prediabetes can be reversed. The key is to find out whether you’re at risk early on.
But what exactly are those right steps? Well, they’re things you already know you should be doing for a healthier lifestyle, like eating better, losing weight, and getting at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week. If you need a little extra help in taking those steps, consider joining the Fit & Well, MD Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).
Our team of lifestyle coaches deliver this science-backed program. Using the CDC-supported curriculum, coaches educate and facilitate interactive discussion among groups of 10-20 participants whose goal is to lose 5-7% of their starting weight by the end of the year-long program. Classes cover many health and wellness topics including meal planning, tips for eating away from home, and ways to increase daily physical activity. The first 6 months of the program includes 16 group classes, and 6 group classes are delivered in the last 6 months. The well-researched lifestyle change program has been shown to significantly reduce participants’ risk of developing type 2 diabetes and associated chronic diseases.