Central California Alliance for Health | Living Healthy | June 2019

7 HEALTHY Have you heard about prediabetes? Impor tant facts you should know YOU CAN CALL the Alliance Health Education Line at (800) 700-3874, ext. 5580 for more information. Chances are you know someone with type 2 diabetes. It’s the most common form of diabetes—millions of Americans have it. But have you heard of something called prediabetes? It’s a condition that also affects millions of Americans— and one that everyone should learn about. Here are three things you need to know about prediabetes: 1. It isn’t the same as diabetes—yet. Prediabetes is a serious warning that type 2 diabetes is on its way. If you’re told you have prediabetes, it means your blood sugar (glucose) level is higher than normal, but not quite high enough to be type 2 diabetes. But if your glucose level continues to go up—and you don’t take steps to bring it down—you’ll probably develop type 2 diabetes. 2. You could have it, but not know it. There are no symptoms of prediabetes to warn you of the condition. The only way to know for sure is to talk to your doctor about having your blood sugar level measured. Your doctor may recommend that you be tested for the condition if you’re 45 or older. Even if you’re younger than 45, your doctor might also want you to get tested if you are overweight and have other risk factors. These other risk factors include having a family history of diabetes; being of African American, Asian American or Hispanic/Latino descent; having high blood pressure; or not being physically active. 3. Small steps can go a long way toward reversing it. The good news is changes in your lifestyle can often reverse prediabetes. Losing weight, exercising regularly, and eating less fat and calories can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The Alliance offers diabetes and prediabetes education classes for all ages. There you can learn tools to prevent diabetes or keep it under control. Topics covered include how to eat the right foods, be more active and lower stress levels. You will also learn how to test your blood sugar and use medicine, if needed. Education is provided through individual and group settings. Members with other health coverage must use all benefits provided through their primary insurer before using Alliance benefits. Sources: American Diabetes Association; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases