Preventing Diabetes
What is Pre-Diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is when your blood glucose (blood sugar) is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. You may have also heard it called “borderline diabetes.”
If your fasting blood glucose is 100-125 mg/mL or your A1C is 5.7-6.4 percent, then you probably have pre-diabetes. Without making any changes, you could go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
You may also be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes if you:
- Are 45 years or older
- Had gestational diabetes
- Have a BMI ≥ 25
- Have an immediate family member with diabetes
- Are physically active less than 3x/week
- Are African-American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander
Studies show that people at risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by:
- Losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight
- Being active for 150 minutes every week
In other words: you don't have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. The key is: small steps that lead to big rewards!
There are classes that can help you if you have pre-diabetes. Find your local diabetes education program or a diabetes prevention class near you.