Preventing Prediabetes: The First Warning Sign to Diabetes

What if there was a way to take action against diabetes before it impacts someone you know or even yourself? The first step to loosening diabetes’ grip on our population is being aware of the early signs of this disease and understanding how to stop it in its tracks. Light must be shed on the importance of preventing prediabetes and how this prevention, in turn, can slow the growing number of avoidable diabetes cases.

Alarmingly, almost 1.5 million adults in Wisconsin have prediabetes or type 1 diabetes, yet 1.3 million of those are not aware of their diagnosis. That is nearly 87% of prediabetics in our state are unaware of their serious underlying condition that may lead to serious health outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working to make more people aware of this condition by providing a free test for signs of prediabetes. To take this free 1-minute risk test, you can go to DoIHavePrediabetes.org.

You may often hear about the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and the health risks associated with it, but you may not be aware of what prediabetes is and how it leads to developing this condition. Having prediabetes means that your blood sugar level is above normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Because prediabetes does not typically show diabetic symptoms, it is not caught soon enough before it progresses to type 2. If you have prediabetes, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases dramatically.

However, there is good news. Developing type 2 diabetes is not inevitable. Many factors can control whether this disease progresses, and fortunately, these factors can be improved. Our lifestyle and the choices we make deeply impact the chances of getting prediabetes. You may believe that getting diabetes is inevitable because it runs in your family, but how you take care of your health outweighs this element of risk.

So, what should you do to prevent yourself from getting prediabetes or letting your prediabetes progress further? The most crucial steps you can take to protect your health are to limit risky behaviors such as smoking, being inactive, or eating an unbalanced diet. Individuals who are overweight and obese are at the highest risk for developing prediabetes and should talk to a medical professional about ways to lose excess weight. Another great resource available to prevent diabetes is located on the CDC’s website, where you can find in-person or online lifestyle change programs located near you. These programs are aimed at reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity to a minimum of 150 minutes a week for participants. Research has proven that participating in these programs can cut your risk of further developing type 2 diabetes in half.

If you suspect you may have prediabetes, or are unsure if you should get tested, you can find more information on cdc.gov/diabetes to understand what your next steps should be. Take your health into your own hands and out of the hands of diabetes today.

Jackson County: Healthy People, Strong Community