Elevate Your Health Colorado: Your Health Information Resource

There are several types of diabetes, and all involve elevated blood sugar levels. Type 2 is by far the most common and accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases. Nearly 24 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, but 1 in 4 are unaware they have it, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Before developing type 2 diabetes, most people have a condition known as prediabetes, which typically has no noticeable symptoms. As a result, it is very easy for this condition to go undiagnosed and untreated.

What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes occurs when the body does not respond properly to insulin – a condition known as insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that allows blood sugar to enter the body’s cells. When the body becomes insulin resistant, sugar accumulates in the blood where, over time, it can silently damage the heart, blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, and eyes.

According to the ADA, about 57 million Americans have prediabetes. The good news is, if you take action to manage this condition, you can delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes from ever developing.

But how can you manage a condition you don’t even know you have?

“To help prevent prediabetes from going undetected, it is important to be aware of the risks,” explains Felipe Hernandez, MD, a board-certified family physician with Kaiser Permanente Colorado.

Thanks to the latest research, health professionals know exactly who is at risk for diabetes – and they want the general public to become more aware, too.

What is your risk for diabetes?
If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, you may be at risk for diabetes.

• Do you have a family history of diabetes? People who have a first-degree relative with diabetes, such as a parent or sibling, are most at risk.
   
• Do you belong to a certain ethnic group? African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian Americans have an increased risk.
   
• Have you had gestational diabetes? This condition, which occurs when women have high blood sugar during pregnancy, is a major risk.
   
• Are you 45 or older? The older you are, the greater your risk.
   
• Are you obese or overweight? People who carry excess weight primarily around the waist are especially at risk.
   
• Are you sedentary? Exercise helps the body metabolize blood sugar and keep weight in check.
   
• Do you eat a lot of refined carbohydrates and fats? These foods contribute to weight gain and elevated blood sugar levels.

What can you do to decrease your risk?
If you have any of these risks, it is important to be screened regularly with a fasting blood sugar test, which is typically part of an annual physical. A blood sugar level below 100 is considered normal. People have prediabetes when their level is between 100 and 125; they have diabetes when it is 126 or higher.

“Many people can adequately manage high blood sugar by making healthier food choices, getting more exercise, and achieving a healthy weight,” Dr. Hernandez says.

Changing long-established habits is seldom easy. At Kaiser Permanente Colorado, health care teams make sure patients get the guidance and encouragement they need to succeed.

To help improve eating habits, Dr. Hernandez often refers patients to a dietitian. “Today, many people tend to consume a lot of simple carbohydrates, such as white bread and sugary drinks,” he says. “A dietitian can teach people how to replace simple carbohydrates with complex ones, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.” The body metabolizes complex carbohydrates more slowly, which helps blood sugar levels remain more consistent.

Exercise also helps the body process blood sugar. “If people have an elevated blood sugar level, they can often lower it substantially by going for an hour-long walk or doing other moderate forms of exercise,” Dr. Hernandez says.

Losing weight also helps. Studies report blood sugar levels improve considerably when people lose just 10 percent of their body weight.

Dr. Hernandez encourages his patients to learn all they can about diabetes and prediabetes. To help manage these conditions, he recommends they attend prediabetes classes or visit Kaiser Permanente’s online programs, which provide links to classes on nutrition and weight management. Like many health care providers, Kaiser Permanente also provides special rates for Weight Watchers^®, a nationally recognized weight-loss program.

“Kaiser Permanente’s integrated program helps patients manage every aspect of diabetes,” Dr. Hernandez continues. “We not only identify patients who are at risk but also provide the necessary support for preventing the condition. Should patients develop diabetes, we have the medical expertise for treating it and warding off long-term complications.”

To learn more about diabetes and how to reduce your risk, visit KaiserPermanente.org.

Dr. Hernandez received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and performed his residency in family medicine at UCLA, Santa Monica.