Diabetes Prevention
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with modest lifestyle changes. Those changes include:
- Lose 5-7% of your weight (that’s 10-15lbs for a 200lb person)
- Being physically active for 150 minutes per week
The best place to start is to determine if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Certain factors that increase a person’s risk for type 2 diabetes include:
- Being over age 45
- Having a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant)
- Having a BMI over 25
- Having a family history of diabetes
- Getting less than 150 minutes of exercise each week
- Being African American, Hispanic, or Latino, American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander
Find out your risk by taking the prediabetes risk assessment here:
Diagnosis Through Blood Testing
Your doctor may also tell you that you are at an increased risk for diabetes based on a blood test. Prediabetes or borderline diabetes is when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes. You are considered to have prediabetes if your blood tests are within the following ranges:
- Fasting glucose 100-125 mg/mL
- A1C 5.7 – 6.4%
Help for Prediabetes Is Here
The good news is that there are programs designed to help prevent diabetes. Whether your doctor told you that you have prediabetes or you are at an increased risk based on the risk test, the Diabetes Prevention Program is here for you. This evidence-based program helps participants build healthy habits designed to last a lifetime. Learn more about the program here:
Find a Diabetes Prevention Program:
Not seeing a program near you? Please use the following resources: