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Diabetes Prevention

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 Pre-Diabetes?

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 know they 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.

Am I at Risk?

Could you have prediabetes? Take the risk test today.

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; or
  • 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.

Diabetes Prevention Program

The Diabetes Prevention Program is a CDC-recognized lifestyle change program that helps participants build new habits to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. This free program includes 16 weekly sessions, followed by monthly sessions for ongoing support from a lifestyle coach.

Learn to:

  • Eat healthy without giving up all the foods you love
  • Add physical activity to your life, even if you don’t think you have time
  • Deal with stress
  • Cope with challenges that can derail your hard work
  • Get back on track if you stray from your plan—because everyone slips now and then

Participants who lost 5-7% of their body weight and added 150 minutes of exercise per week cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58% (71% for people over 60 years old). Contact the Boone County Health Department for more information.