More that 24 million people in the United States have diabetes and many more are headed there. In fact, more than double that amount have prediabetes or insulin resistance, a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes, according to Mills-Peninsula registered dietitian and diabetes educator Donna deKay.
The good news? Studies have shown that by losing weight and increasing physical activity people can prevent or delay prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes.
In this video segment from Healthpoint TV, deKay explains the physiology of type 2 diabetes and the steps people can take to prevent it, including nutrition tips that can make a real difference.
Dr. David Klonoff, Medical Director of the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI)
Faster and more effective treatments for diabetes are on the horizon, and Mills-Peninsula’s Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) is leading the charge to get these new products and drugs to market.
Working with companies that manufacture products to treat diabetes, the DRI conducts clinical trials and aids the development process until the offerings are ready to be submitted to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for approval.
“We’ve helped test and develop many of the diabetes drugs and devices on the market today,” said David Klonoff, M.D., medical director of the DRI.
· A family history of diabetes
· High blood pressure
· High cholesterol· A diagnosis of pre-diabetes
Or are you overweight?
Any of the items listed above put you at a higher risk for diabetes. The good news is – research shows that lifestyle changes can reverse pre-diabetes.
Blindness, amputation, heart disease, kidney failure. The long list of health problems associated with diabetes is well-publicized, but many people don’t know that even minor changes to diet and exercise habits can prevent the disease, even after prediabetes develops.
“Often people think they can’t make any changes, but small steps can produce big rewards in preventing type 2 diabetes,” said Donna deKay, R.D., certified diabetes educator and outpatient nutritionist at Mills-Peninsula Health Services.
Welcome! This blog is designed as a forum for engaging patients, their families and the community in conversations about health care, and to help promote health education and wellness with articles and tips from our doctors and staff from different departments. We welcome your comments and insight. Thank you for visiting our blog and sharing.
