By Sarah Johnson Carson City Health and Human Services
Friday, March 19, 2021
March 23 is Diabetes Alert Day. In Nevada, approximately 281,000 or 12.4% of the population has diabetes, and 35.1% has prediabetes.
Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that 70,000 Nevadans have diabetes and do not know it. Diabetes Type 1 is when the body does not produce enough insulin and is usually diagnosed at a young age. Diabetes Type 2 is when the body does not respond to insulin as well as it should. Prediabetes is where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as being diabetic.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), doctors sometimes refer to prediabetes as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG), depending on what test was used to detect the condition. This condition puts you at a higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseasedisease of the heart and blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries).
Some people with diabetes type 2 and prediabetes will have symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, unintended weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing sores, and frequent infections. Some may not have these symptoms or if the person has been living with symptoms for a long time, this may seem normal.
High Risk Assessment tools or blood tests may be the only way some people become aware of their diabetes risk. Blood test results indicating prediabetes are an A1C of 5.7% – 6.4%, fasting blood glucose of 100 – 125 mg/dl, and an OGTT 2-hour blood glucose of 140 mg/dl – 199 mg/dl.
For some with prediabetes, early intervention and being proactive with their health by eating healthy foods and participating in some sort of physical activity 30 minutes each day (which will usually result in some weight loss), may return blood glucose levels to the normal range. Research shows that you can lower your risk for Type 2 diabetes by 58% by losing weight if you are overweight. Consult with a healthcare provider about a safe and healthy way to lose weight to decrease your risk for developing Diabetes Type 2.
Carson Health and Human Services Diabetes Program is focused on preventing Diabetes Type 2 in our community through outreach to people who are prediabetic. The Diabetes Outreach Program ADA Prediabetes Risk Assessment Tool can help indicate, without bloodwork, whether you may be at risk for being prediabetic by asking you some questions about high-risk factors. These questions ask about your weight, activity level, blood pressure, a diagnosis of gestational diabetes, age, and gender.
A combination of only a few of these things can make you high risk for developing diabetes. Being overweight, inactive, and having an unhealthy diet may put you at risk for diabetes in the future. The things that are high risk such as gestational diabetes, age, genetics, and gender are things we can’t control. The Diabetes Prevention Program focuses on things people can control to prevent a diabetes diagnosis.
CCHHS’s Diabetes Program is focused on reaching out to the 35.1% prediabetic population and to provide free evidence-based CDC prevention education resources. A diagnosis of prediabetes may mean you are at high risk to have Type 2 Diabetes in the future. However, with the right tools and knowledge, this is something that can be prevented if the person is aware and reduces their risk by being proactive with their health.
The CDC curriculum is offered through trained Diabetes Prevention Coaches that can help a person navigate the things you can control to avoid a Diabetes Type 2 diagnosis. To find out more about these free programs, or for a free training to become a diabetes coach, contact Sarah Johnson at Carson Health and Human Services Sbjohnson@carson.org 775-283-7900, or the Diabetes Program Coordinator Victoria Alejandre at Dignity Health Victoria.Alejandre@DignityHealth.org.
For resources and information about the Health Department programs and services, go to www.gethealthycarsoncity.org, follow us on Twitter @CCHealthEd, “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cchhs, follow us Instagram @gethealthycarsoncity, call us at (775) 887-2190, or visit us at 900 E. Long St., in Carson City.
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