I am sure that most of you have heard of Diabetes, the kind you can get as a child or the kind you can develop as an adult. But did you know that you can have what is called prediabetes? While that sounds like a bad diagnosis, it really isn’t as bad as you might think. Why? Because prediabetes can actually be prevented and even reversed in the right circumstances.
It is all about awareness, education and action. Having prediabetes means your blood glucose is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. More than one in three American adults have prediabetes and are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a serious health condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Surprisingly, nearly 90 percent of people with prediabetes don’t even know they have it. But prediabetes can be reversed through weight loss, diet changes and increased physical activity. The first step to reversing the condition is evaluating one’s personal risk so that they can take action as soon as possible.
If you have never been tested but think you or a loved one could be at risk, you can take a quick quiz here that will give you a heads up.
No one is excused from prediabetes, it can happen to anyone. And with our crazy hectic schedules that we lead in our lives today, we are all somewhat guilty of not taking the time to take care of ourselves.
If you find out you are at risk or if you have been diagnosed, it is not all bad news. Here are a few things you can do right NOW to start reducing your risk!
- Get at least 2.5 hours (150 minutes) of light aerobic activity every week. This could be as simple as going for a brisk 30-minute walk 5 days per week. Even 10 minutes at a time adds up. Small steps can lead to big changes.
- Find simple ways to be more active throughout the day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking farther away from the entrance of a store front when you hit the shops. Because, hey, whatever will get you moving is a step in the right direction.
- At the start of each week, create a schedule of when you’re going to exercise — and make it a priority to stick to it!
- Get resources that can help you get active here.
March 22nd is Diabetes Alert Day. This is such an important and urgent message. Please take the time to share with your friends and loved ones. You might just save a life!
