What is pre-diabetes?
When blood glucose levels are
higher than normal but not high
enough to be diabetes, you have
pre-diabetes.
If you have pre-diabetes, you
are more likely to develop type
2 diabetes and its serious
complications, such as heart
disease, stroke, blindness,
kidney failure, and nerve
damage.
The good news is research shows
that people with pre-diabetes
can prevent type 2 diabetes by
taking small steps toward living
a healthy life. Ask your health
care provider about your risk
and if you should be tested.
Also, the following are some
small steps you can take now to
prevent
diabetes:
-
Find out if you are at risk.
-
Lose some weight.
Losing s little as
10 pounds can
help reduce your
risk.
-
Be more active. Choose an
activity you enjoy and practice
it for at least 30 minutes a
day, 5
days a week.
-
Eat Healthy. Cut down on fatty
and fried foods. Eat more fruits
and vegetables, dried beans and
whole grains.
-
Record your progress. Keep a
daily journal and write down
what you eat and how you
exercise.
Keep at it! Make one new
change each week. If you get
off track, start again and keep
going.
To find out about your risk for
diabetes, check each item that
applies to you:
___ My weight puts me at risk
for diabetes. (see table
above)
___ I have a parent, brother, or
sister with diabetes.
___ I am Asian American or
Pacific Islander.
___ I had diabetes when I
was pregnant or I gave to at
least one baby weighing 9
pounds or more.
___ My blood pressure is
140/90 or higher or have
been told that I have
high blood pressure.
___ My cholesterol (lipid)
levels are not normal. My
HDL cholesterol ( goodcholesterol) is less than
40 ( for men) or less
than 50 (for women), or
my triglyceride level is
250 or higher.
___ I exercise fewer than
three times a week.
KEEP IN MIND: As people get
older, their risks for
type 2 diabetes increases.
For more information, visit:
www.ndep.nih.gov or call:
1-800-438-5383
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