PREDIABETES: now what?

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. In Type 2 Diabetes, the
sugar (glucose) levels in your blood are too high. How does this happen? Your body relies on glucose for
energy. When you eat, your body breaks down most of your food into glucose, and then your blood carries
that glucose to different parts of your body to be used. Whenever you eat something and your blood
glucose goes up, your body releases a hormone called insulin. Insulin is responsible for moving glucose
out of the blood and into cells to be used for energy. With Type 2 Diabetes, your body does not respond
normally to insulin, and this is known as insulin resistance. This insulin resistance causes glucose to build
up in blood, causing what we often call “high blood sugar.” Over time having high blood sugar can cause
damage in almost every part of the body.

SO: What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is when your blood sugar is higher than normal but is not high enough to be considered Type
2 Diabetes. If prediabetes is not treated, blood sugar levels will continue to rise, and Type 2 diabetes can
develop. Without intervention, many people with Prediabetes will develop Type 2 Diabetes in as little as 5
years. Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes are diagnosed by looking at fasting blood sugar and A1C.

A1C Test Fasting Blood Sugar A1C, also known as

Diabetes hemoglobin A1C, is a blood
6.5% or above 126 mg/dL or above test that measures your
average blood sugar for the
Prediabetes 5.7 - 6.4% 100-125 mg/dL past 3 months. A1C is the
main test used to both
diagnose and manage
Normal Below 5.7% 99 mg/dL or below
Prediabetes and Type 2
Diabetes.

but … Prediabetes is REVERSIBLE!

Why should you try to reverse Prediabetes and prevent Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 Diabetes can lead to serious health problems such as:

Heart Attack or Stroke Blindness Kidney Failure Loss of toes, feet, or legs

Type 2 Diabetes is not only dangerous, but also costly, causing individuals with Type
2 Diabetes to have an average of $16,750 a year in additional medical expenses.

so what can YOU do

 You can decrease your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes in 3 ways:

1. Set a Weight Loss Goal

A small amount of weight loss (5% of your body weight) has been shown to lower the risk for
developing Type 2 Diabetes. By making healthier eating choices and incorporating physical activity
into your day, you are already making steps to reach your weight loss goal!

2. Get Regular Physical Activity

150 minutes a week of physical activity can decrease your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (that’s
only 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week!). Physical activity is anything that gets your heart rate up
and gets your breathing harder, like as a brisk walk.

3. Make Healthier Eating Choices

Foods/drinks you should choose MORE often: Foods/drinks you should choose LESS often:
• Non-starchy vegetables (peppers, • Processed foods (packaged snacks,
mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, and packaged meat, chips, granola bars, sweets,
spinach) and fast foods)
• Fruits • Trans fat (found in things such as margarine,
• Lean protein (fish, chicken, turkey, tofu, snack food, packaged baked goods, and
eggs, and yogurt) fried foods)
• Whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, and steel • Sugary drinks (fruit juice, sports drinks, and
cut oatmeal) soda)
• Water and unsweetened beverages • Alcohol

No matter what you eat, always watch your Watch out for condiments! So many sauces, such
portions! Some foods, while nutritious, can also as ketchup and barbecue sauce, are high in
be very high in calories. sugar. Always check your nutrition labels!

What else can you do?

amour
To best manage your Prediabetes, make sure to be complaint with medication prescribed by your health
care provider and visit your health care provider every 3 months. The overall goal in the management
of Prediabetes is a reduction in your A1C. At each visit, your health care provider will test your A1C to look
at your average blood sugar over the past 3 months since your last visit. To reverse Prediabetes, your A1C
goal should be below 5.7%, but any reduction in A1C is a win!

Prediabetes is reversible, but the damage caused by Type 2 Diabetes is not. Take control of your health
and stop Type 2 Diabetes before it starts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, April 6). x your way to preventing type 2 diabetes. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevent-type-2/guide-prevent-type2-diabetes.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023a, April 18). Type 2 diabetes. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html#:~:text=More%20than%2037%20million%20Americans,adults%20are%20also%20developing%20it.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023b, August 1). About Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/about-prediabetes.html
OASH. (2023, September 16). Take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes. MyHealthfinder. https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/health-conditions/diabetes/take-steps-prevent-type-2-diabetes