Prediabetes is common in Shasta County, and most cases go undiagnosed. You are at higher risk if you are older than 40, overweight, not physically active, or have a family member with diabetes. The good news is, with a little exercise and change in diet, it can often be reversed.
Hear how small changes over time helped Grant improve his health and reverse prediabetes.
You may have prediabetes for years and not know it because there may be no clear symptoms. Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have pre-diabetes—blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. You may have some of the symptoms of diabetes or even some of the complications. Prediabetes leads to diabetes, a risk factor of dementia. Talk to your doctor and get your blood sugar tested.
If you find out that you have prediabetes, you still have a chance to turn things around. You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by making lasting lifestyle changes that include eating healthy, being more active, managing stress and losing some weight. Small changes can make a big impact.
Let’s face it, if change was easy, we would all do it. You have spent years developing habits, and you can’t expect to change overnight. There are local resources to help.
If you have prediabetes, we suggest joining a free community health education workshop or class such as Diabetic Compass, Cooking Matters, Mindful Eating, and Wellness Yoga currently offered at Shasta Community Health Center. See below for event flyers and calendar.
To learn more about prediabetes and diabetes in our community, check out the FREE events that we have in Shasta County.
Our next Stop Diabetes Before it Starts community event is on Wednesday, November 20th at 5:30pm. Location: Shasta Community Health Center. For more information and to register, click on the news page link below.
Sponsored by Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency-Public Health Branch in conjunction with the Shasta Family YMCA, Shasta Community Health Center, Dignity Health Mercy Medical Center-Redding, Redding Rancheria, and KIXE-PBS.
These partners are committed to diabetes and chronic disease prevention.