Professionals

A message from Dr. T Nanda Kumar, Certified Medical Director-Vibra Hospital in Redding, California.

Prevent Diabetes

In the average primary care practice, it’s likely that one-third of patients over age 18 have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is characterized by blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Unless treated early, many people with prediabetes will develop diabetes within 5 years. Diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and nerve disease. Prediabetes can be reversed if discovered and treated early. This is where CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs such as, the Shasta Family YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program, can help.

Diabetes In Shasta County

Prediabetes is common in Shasta County, and most cases go undiagnosed. In 2013-2014, 50% of Shasta County adults were estimated to have prediabetes, including 30% of young adults aged 18-39. Diagnosed cases of diabetes and prediabetes have increased recently, suggesting that local providers may be screening more at-risk patients. In 2017-2018, 18% of Shasta County adults were diagnosed with diabetes, and 20% with prediabetes.

diagram: diabetes in shasta county
Urologist Doctor consulting patient.

Be Their Helping Hand

Patients look to you, their health care provider, for information on promoting health and preventing chronic disease. Research shows that patients are more likely to engage in preventive health behaviors when they are recommended by their health care professionals.

You can feel confident that referring your patients to the Shasta Family YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program will help reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes and provide them tools for living happier and healthier lives. For more information about the prevention program, click on the link below.

Shasta Family YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program

So What Can I do?

  1. Screen and identify patients for prediabetes.
  2. Refer patients to diabetes prevention programs such as the Shasta Family YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program. See below.
  3. Create feedback loops, linking the patient’s progress in the diabetes prevention program back to the practice.

You can be the link between your patients and the opportunity for them to start making simple lifestyle changes to stop diabetes before it starts.

Referring a patient is simple. Print and complete this Physician Referral Form.pdf and give to your patient or send an e-mail to ymcadpp@sfymca.org or call 530-768-2185. For more information about the Shasta Family YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program, go to YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program Flyer.pdf or click on the tab below.

Shasta Family YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program

Who is eligible for referral to a diabetes prevention program?

  • Be 18 years or older.
  • Overweight (BMI ≥25; ≥22 if Asian), and
  • Diagnosed with prediabetes via one of three blood tests:
    • Hemoglobin A1C: 5.7%- 6.4%
    • Fasting plasma glucose (FPG): 100-125 mg/dL
    • 2-hour plasma glucose (OGTT) between 140-199 mg/dL
  • Previous diagnoses of gestational diabetes
  • Have no previous diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes

AMA-Tools For The Team
DIABETES PREVENTION TOOLKIT

The American Medical Association (AMA) provides fact sheets, questionnaires and handouts that provide guidance on engaging health care teams and stakeholders on diabetes prevention topics, from testing and screening, to referrals and implementation of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP).

Further Resources from CDC and AMA

As part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are collaborating to create tools and resources for care teams. The tools and resources identify patients with prediabetes and refer eligible patients to in-person or online diabetes prevention programs. These programs are one of the most effective ways to help physicians prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in high-risk patients.

References:
  1. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/info-hcp.html
  2. Prediabetes in California: Nearly half of California adults on path to diabetes, 2016 March. UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
  3. California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2013-2014. CHIS 2017-2018.