Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. It is a warning sign that a person is at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future.
How Do You Prevent the Development of Type 2 Diabetes?
The main goal of treating prediabetes is to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes such as:
- Losing weight if overweight or obese. The first step is to eat healthier food with fewer calories. Start by keeping track of your weight, eating habits, and physical activities.
- Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Your diet plays a huge role in managing your diabetes. Using the healthy plate as a guide can help ensure your blood sugar stays on track. Healthy eating helps control blood sugar and reduces your risk for long-term health problems.
- Exercising regularly. Exercising is important. It helps keep weight off and improves your overall health. Exercise can help lower blood sugar and improve your insulin sensitivity.
- Quit smoking. If you smoke, you have a 30% to 40% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who don't smoke. The more you smoke, the higher your risk. As a Carolina Complete Health member, you enroll in the Quit for Life® Tobacco Cessation Program to help you stop smoking or using other tobacco products.
Members Diagnosed with Prediabetes can enroll in our YMCA Diabetes Prevention Value-Added Service Program
The YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program* is a one-year virtual program to help adults lower their risk of diabetes by learning about physical activity and nutrition leading to weight loss and risk reduction. A trained Lifestyle Coach will teach a small group of members how healthy eating, exercise, and behavior changes can help lower their risk for diabetes and improve their overall health.
*There is no cost to enroll in this program. The program is available to Carolina Complete Health members age 18 years or older with prediabetes, a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25+ (Asian individual(s) with BMI of 23+) and have an A1c between 5.7% - 6.4. Members who currently have diabetes would not be eligible since this program is preventative.
Next Steps
If you need help making an appointment with your primary care provider to discuss a plan to prevent or manage diabetes, please contact Member Services at 1-833-552-3876 (TTY 711) from 7a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.