LIVEWELL MINUTE: Preventing Diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 23.6 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Before people develop diabetes, they almost always have “pre-diabetes” or blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Sue Freeman, Diabetes Education Director says, “There are 57 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes.”

Individuals are at higher risk for diabetes if they are:

• Overweight
• Inactive
• Have high blood pressure
• Have high cholesterol; or
• Have a family history of diabetes

Freeman adds, “If you have any of the risk factors for diabetes see your doctor on a yearly basis for a fasting blood glucose screen and watch your weight and get some exercise.”

Get more information on preventing diabetes from Iowa-Health Des Moines.