Program Helps Prediabetics Lower Disease Risk Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Group Programs Help Prevent Delay Type 2 Diabetes

Classes across the country help adults who have been diagnosed with prediabetes

Maskot/Getty Images . “Diabetes just hadn't come up for me at all, in any form,” says Kenon, now 54. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Approximately 84 million American adults have prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. And 90 percent of adults with prediabetes don't know they have it, . Prediabetes increases a person's risk for heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, which can lead to serious health problems, such as vision loss and kidney disease. Kenon did not take her diagnosis lightly. She enrolled in courses to learn more about it and started keeping track of what she ate. The routine blueberry muffin was quick to go. Taking a look at diet as well as is one of the most important things to do when a patient is diagnosed with prediabetes, says Stephanie Mayer, assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and a physician in the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Research shows that changes in nutrition and physical activity that lead to weight loss can significantly reduce one's risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Kenon has managed to keep her blood sugar levels in check through diet and exercise, and she wants to help others do the same. As she tells it, learning what to do to fend off diabetes is one thing; “making the change is the hard part.” Now a certified lifestyle coach for the (NDPP), Kenon plans to introduce the yearlong course to her Harlem church in January. Offered to people with prediabetes at community centers, businesses and faith-based organizations nationwide, the CDC-recognized program has resulted in a number of success stories since its launch. Heather Hodge, senior director of evidence-based health interventions at YMCA of the USA, says that, on average, more than 67,000 people who have gone through the program at over 240 YMCA locations that offer it lost 5.7 percent of their body weight and increased their physical activity to 164 minutes per week. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > For expert tips to help feel your best, .
Adults enrolled in the NDPP, most of whom are between 45 and 65, learn everything from how to make healthy choices while eating out to how to identify fat in foods. The cost of the yearlong program varies (it's $429 at the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.), but Dandeker says insurance may cover part of it. Many are referred to the NDPP by their doctors; others find out about it by word of mouth. A short from the CDC lets you know if you may qualify.

Lower your risk for prediabetes

In addition to making healthy lifestyle changes, Mayer says people concerned about prediabetes should consult their doctors and pharmacists to see if any medications they are taking could be causing weight gain, since being overweight is a risk factor for the condition. Common culprits include certain beta blockers that treat high blood pressure and heart failure, and medications used for seasonal allergies. “A lot of my patients put a lot of effort into their diet, their lifestyle,” Mayer says, “and if they're on a medication that's tripping them up, it seems like it would be important to think about.” Cutting out is another way to lower your risk for prediabetes. For a zero-calorie drink, Mayer likes to flavor a pitcher of water with spices — try a cinnamon stick or shaved ginger root. Finally, ask your doctor if you should be tested for prediabetes. People with a family history of type 2 diabetes and women who have had gestational diabetes are at increased risk for the condition. So are adults 45 and older. An early diagnosis means there's time to prevent further complications. More on health AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS