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Defeat Diabetes Foundation

Defeat Diabetes
Foundation
150 153rd Ave,
Suite 300
Madeira Beach, FL 33708

DIABEducation™

By Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE

Prevention is Bliss

When the traffic light turns yellow, do you slow down to avoid an accident? What if the warning signs of a serious health problem were as obvious? It is with diabetes, thanks to a new standard for defining high blood sugar and pre-diabetes.

What is pre-diabetes? It is a health condition wherein blood sugar (glucose) levels are elevated, but not high enough to be classified in the diabetes range. How high is too high? According to the new American Diabetes Association standard set in November 2003, pre-diabetes is defined by:

A fasting blood sugar (taken in the absence of food/drink for at least 8 hours) more than 100 and less than 125 milligrams, or
A random blood sugar (taken anytime of the day regardless of food/drink consumption) of more than 140 and less than 200 milligrams.

How do you find out if you are one of the 57 million North Americans who have pre-diabetes? A simple blood sugar test performed by your doctor! Who should get tested? Anyone who is:

45 or older and overweight (ask your doctor about the test if you are not overweight)
30 or older if you have a diabetic relative, are overweight, belong to African American, Latino, Asian, American Indian or Pacific Islander populations, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, had gestational diabetes, or if you had an abnormal blood sugar reading in the past.

If you have pre-diabetes, you can prevent belonging to the growing diabetes epidemic by walking or being active almost every day and losing a little weight (7% of your total weight). Preventing a chronic disease—that’s bliss!

Slow down and get tested for diabetes. What you know can save your life.