Doctor For Life

Diabetes Prevention Program

What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a blood glucose (sugar) level that is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. One in three American adults has prediabetes, and most do not even knowthey have it. If you have prediabetes and do not lose weight or do moderate physical activity, you can develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body can’t use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in your blood.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition. It can lead to health issues such as heart attack; stroke; blindness; kidney failure; or loss of toes, feet, or legs.

What is the Prevent T2 Program?

If you have prediabetes or other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, now is the time to take charge of your health and make a change. The PreventT2 lifestyle change program can help!

PreventT2 is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It features an approach that is proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

By improving food choices and increasing physical activity, you can lose 5 to 7 percent of your body weight — that is 10 to 14 pounds for a person weighing 200 pounds. If you have prediabetes,

these lifestyle changes can cut your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half.

National Diabetes Prevention Program

How can Prevent T2 help you?

As part of a PreventT2 group, you will work with other participants and a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes. These changes include losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress.

Who is at risk for Prediabetes and T2 Diabetes?

You are at increased risk for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if you:

• Are 45 years of age or older

• Are overweight

• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes

• Are physically active fewer than three times per week

• Ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds.

If you think you may be at risk, a health care provider can do a blood test to see if you have diabetes or prediabetes.

Prediabetes Risk Self Assessment

How does the Prevent T2 Program work?

PreventT2 groups meet for a year — weekly for the first 6 months, then once or twice a month for the second 6 months to maintain healthy lifestyle changes. During each session, your lifestyle coach will teach a lesson and lead a group discussion.

For example, you will learn to:

• Eat healthy

• Add physical activity to your life

• Manage stress

• Stay on track when eating out

• Understand and respond to your food cues

• Stay motivated

• Solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes

More information about the PreventT2 Curriculum