HealthEast Clinics Compass - November/December 2008

With rates rising nationwide, diabetes is a condition that gets a lot of attention. For many people, however, a diabetes diagnosis is preceded by one of pre-diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is a condition in which a person's blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not quite high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Left unchecked, this condition often leads to type 2 diabetes — a lifelong disease.

Identifying and treating pre-diabetes is a terrific example of how preventive medicine can work. There is a lot patients can do if they know the risks for pre-diabetes and action steps necessary to prevent diabetes.

When you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, studies show that you have a 58% chance of avoiding type 2 diabetes by changing your behaviors. HealthEast Diabetes Care now offers a Pre-Diabetes Program to give you information and support to make these behavior changes.

The program includes information on:

Healthy blood sugar goals
Healthy eating
Increasing activity

Taught by diabetes educators, this two-session class lasts two hours each session. It also includes a loaner blood sugar meter and instructions on how to
use it.

To register for classes, call the HealthEast Care Connection at 651-326-CARE (2273).

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This publication does not constitute professional medical advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. If you have a medical question, consult your medical professional. Images may be from one or more of these sources: ©Jupiterimages, ©Getty Images, ©iStock, ©PhotoSpin, ©SnapVillage. ©2008 HealthEast Care System