Pre-diabetes does not have to lead to diabetes

The best way to decrease the costs of diabetes complications is to prevent diabetes in the first place. One of every three U.S. adults has pre-diabetes and most don't know they have it.  Pre-diabetes means that a person’s blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be defined as type 2 diabetes.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program is coming to Colorado!  In the spring of 2013, several organizations throughout Colorado will offer a group lifestyle change program that reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  Most people who participate in this program lose 5 percent  to 7 percent of their body weight and start exercising 150 minutes a week.

What are the risk factors of pre-diabetes?

• Over age 45 years
• Overweight or obese
• High blood pressure
• Low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides
• A family history of diabetes
• A history of gestational diabetes
• Family background is African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander

Everyone Deserves the Freedom to Live Without Diabetes

To support this evidence-based program and prevent diabetes, health care providers and others should screen for pre-diabetes and refer those at risk to this new program. To learn more, go to http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/pre-diabetes/pre-diabetes-faqs.html

To learn more about Colorado’s efforts to roll-out the National Diabetes Prevention Program please go to https://sites.google.com/site/diabetespreventionprogram/home