EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT PRE-DIABETES IS?
PRE-DIABETES IS A HEALTH CONDITION WHERE PEOPLE HAVE HIGHER THAN NORMAL BLOOD SUGAR, BUT NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I AM AT-RISK FOR PRE-DIABETES?
YOU CAN FIND OUT IF YOU ARE AT-RISK FOR PRE-DIABETES BY TAKING AN ONLINE RISK TEST RIGHT FROM YOUR COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE. GO TO: WWW.AARP.ORG/PREDIABETES TO FIND OUT IF YOU ARE AT-RISK FOR PRE-DIABETES.
WHY IS PRE-DIABETES PARTICULARLY AN ISSUE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS?
AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RISKS OF ALL RACIAL/ETHNIC GROUPS FOR DEVELOPING PRE-DIABETES, ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC).
CAN PEOPLE WITH PRE-DIABETES DEVELOP TYPE 2 DIABETES?
YES, ACCORDING TO THE CDC, HAVING PRE-DIABETES PUTS A PERSON AT INCREASED RISK FOR DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES, AS WELL AS HEART DISEASE AND STROKE.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR PRE-DIABETES?
SEVERAL FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE A PERSON’S RISK OF PRE-DIABETES MENTIONED BY THE CDC ARE:
- BEING OVERWEIGHT
- NOT GETTING ENOUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
- HAVING A PARENT, BROTHER, OR SISTER WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES
- BEING OVER THE AGE OF 40
- BEING A MAN
- BEING A WOMAN WITH A HISTORY OF HAVING DIABETES ASSOCIATED WITH A PREGNANCY
- BEING IN A HIGH-RISK RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUP
FOR PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES, WHAT TYPE OF TESTS SHOULD I TAKE TO DIAGNOSE PRE-DIABETES AND WILL MOST INSURANCE COVER THE COST?
AFTER YOU TAKE THE ONLINE RISK TEST ON WWW.AARP.ORG/PREDIABETES AND YOU FIND OUT WHETHER YOU ARE AT-RISK FOR PRE-DIABETES, YOU NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO FIND OUT FOR SURE WHETHER YOU HAVE PRE-DIABETES OR NOT.
YOU CAN FIND OUT FOR SURE BY SEEING YOUR HEALTH PROVIDER WHO CAN GIVE YOU A BLOOD TEST THAT WILL TELL YOU WHETHER YOU ACTUALLY HAVE PRE-DIABETES OR NOT.
- IF YOU HAVE PRIVATE INSURANCE, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. YOUR INSURANCE MAY COVER THE BLOOD TEST AT NO COST TO YOU.
- IF YOU HAVE MEDICARE OR MEDICAID, THE COST OF YOUR BLOOD TEST SHOULD BE COVERED AT NO COST TO YOU.
- IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICARE, MEDICAID, OR A PRIVATE INSURANCE, YOU COULD TRY TO FIND A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A BLOOD TEST AT LITTLE OR NO COST.
REMEMBER, TAKING THE ONLINE RISK TEST ON WWW.AARP.ORG/PREDIABETES IS HELPFUL TO DETERMINE YOUR RISK FOR PRE-DIABETES, BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH.
ONLY A BLOOD TEST ORDERED BY A HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE IF YOU HAVE PRE-DIABETES.
SO, IF YOU SCORE IN THE AT-RISK RANGE USING THE ONLINE RISK TEST, CONSULT WITH YOUR HEALH CARE PRACTITIONER.
THE RISK TEST IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR HAVING YOUR BLOOD TESTED FOR PRE-DIABETES.
IF I AM AT-RISK FOR OR ACTUALLY HAVE PRE-DIABETES, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO REVERSE THE CONDITION?
THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCiATION SAYS THAT LIFESTYLE CHANGES ARE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING TYPE 2 DIABETES AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PRE-DIABETES. MANY PEOPLE WITH PRE-DIABETES CAN GET THEIR BLOOD SUGAR TO RETURN TO NORMAL BY TAKING CERTAIN STEPS.
HOW DOES ONE’S WEIGHT AND/OR EXERCISE HABITS MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO PRE-DIABETES?
MOST PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO LOWER THEIR RISK OF PRE-DIABETES THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHIER EATING HABITS. THESE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
SO AIM FOR:
- EATING A HEALTHIER DIET CONSISTING OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND WHOLE GRAINS, INSTEAD OF A DIET RICH IN ADDED SUGARS.
- LOSING A LITTLE WEIGHT. EVEN 10 TO 15 POUNDS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
- ENGAGING IN SOME MODERATE EXERCISE LIKE TALKING A BRISK WALK FOR 30 MINUTES (HALF AN HOUR) A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK. HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD CHECK WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER BEFORE STARTING A NEW EXERCISE REGIMEN.
AGAIN, YOU CAN TAKE THE FIRST STEP BY TAKING THE RISK TEST ON WWW.AARP.ORG/PREDIABETES.
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