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5
Diabetes Prevention
M
eteorologists can often warn
us of impending bad weather.
Doctors can often do the
same with our health—warning us when
we’re at risk for a serious disease.
An example: a condition called
prediabetes.
If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabe-
tes, it means you have a blood glucose
(sugar) level that is creeping up. Your
level isn’t high enough yet to be called
type 2 diabetes, but it is abnormally high.
e condition is basically a warning that
screams, “Pay attention! Danger ahead!”
at’s because your risk of developing
full-blown diabetes is increased with
prediabetes. And once you have diabetes,
it never goes away.
But here’s the good news: If you act now,
you can slow this trip toward diabetes.
You may even be able to stop it altogether.
Taking a safer route
According to the American Diabetes As-
sociation (ADA), you can cut your risk of
developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent
if you:
»
Lose just 7 percent of your body
weight, or about 15 pounds if you
weigh 200 pounds.
»
Exercise moderately—taking a brisk
walk, for example—30 minutes a day,
ve days a week.
By making healthy lifestyle changes now
to control prediabetes, you may be able
to create a more favorable forecast for
your health in the future.
Outpatient
diabetes education
Methodist Hospital offers educational services for people with type 1, type 2 and
gestational diabetes as well as hypoglycemia (impaired glucose tolerance).
Diabetes management classes
A four-week series of classes is held each month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tues-
days in Classroom 3. Patients are encouraged to attend these free education
classes. A registered nurse, diabetes educator, registered dietitian and physical
therapist will work with patients to answer questions and provide information
necessary to live an active, healthy life.
Topics include eating and diabetes, exercise, blood glucose monitoring, medica-
tions, and prevention of complications. A special workbook is available for pur-
chase to accompany the course for only $20. To register, call
626-821-2344
.
Gestational diabetes
Methodist Hospital also offers our Sweet Success Program to help pregnant
women who have diabetes or who develop gestational diabetes.
energy with the help of a
hormone called insulin.
When you have type 2 diabe-
tes, your body either doesn’t
produce enough insulin or it
doesn’t process the hormone
properly and your blood glu-
cose level remains too high.
Over time, a high blood glucose
level can damage nerves and
blood vessels. Diabetes is also
linked to many other serious
health problems, such as heart
disease, stroke, vision loss and
kidney disease.
Can I lower my risk?
Two of the best ways to reduce
your risk of getting diabetes
are to eat a healthy diet and be
active. In fact, diet and exercise
have been shown to be more
effective than medication in
delaying the onset of diabetes,
according to the American Dia-
betes Association.
Losing a few extra pounds (if
you’re overweight) can also
help. The Diabetes Prevention
Program, a large-scale study
published in 2002, showed that
30 minutes of moderate exer-
cise per day, combined with a
5 to 10 percent drop in body
weight, led to a 58 percent re-
duction in the onset of diabetes
in people who were considered
at high risk for the disease.
Here are some ideas that can
help you take that first step
toward a healthier lifestyle and
a reduced risk of diabetes:
»
Make a move.
Just 30 min-
utes of activity every day can
help. And it doesn’t have to
be at a gym. Ditch the eleva-
tor and take the stairs instead.
Play with your kids, or go for
a walk.
»
Select the best.
Choose non-
fat or low-fat foods for meals
and snacks. Stick to whole-
grain breads and cereals, lean
meats, and fish. Try working
more fruits and vegetables
into your diet.
A few minutes here, a few
pounds there—all these small
steps can add up to create
a big reward: a life without
diabetes.
PREDIABETES:
WHY YOU
SHOULDN’T IGNORE IT
Type 2 diabetes: Take a
step toward prevention
CONTINUED FROM COVER
ARE YOU AT RISK?
To learn more about prediabetes, visit the ADA website
at
www.diabetes.org.
Search for “prediabetes.”