In It Together is about helping each other stay informed and in control of our health. By seeking support and having confidence in ourselves, we can reduce the rate of diabetes and prediabetes in South Carolina.
Know your risk
Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Approximately 1,361,000 adults in South Carolina have prediabetes. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
A person can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes show up.
Prevent Diabetes
The good news is making simple lifestyle changes can reverse prediabetes or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Lifestyle changes can make a big impact. Changes include:
Lose a small amount of weight
Lose around 5% to 7% of your body weight, or just 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person
Get physically active
Get at least 150 minutes a week of physical activity, such as brisk walking or a similar activity. That’s just 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
Choosing healthier food options
Eat more whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.
Manage Diabetes
If you have diabetes, either your body doesn’t make enough insulin or your body can’t use the insulin. There are different types of diabetes including:
Type 1 Diabetes is caused by the body’s lack of ability to produce the insulin it needs. The disease can affect people of any age, but onset usually occurs in children or young adults. People with this form of diabetes need insulin every day in order to control the levels of glucose in their blood. People with type 1 diabetes, when provided with adequate care, can live a healthy life and avoid the complications associated with diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and usually occurs in adults but is increasingly seen in children and adolescents. Type 2 diabetes is a long-term metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. Type 2 diabetes can be managed through increased physical activity and a healthy diet and sometimes medication prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Gestational Diabetes only occurs during pregnancy and usually goes away after birth but increases the risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes also have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in their teens or early adulthood.
For more information on diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association website.
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