Diabetes Prevention and Care Educational Programs

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition that occurs when your body cannot use insulin properly. Without treatment, T2D can cause serious health problems such as stroke, heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease.

The truth is that 37 million, or 1 in 10, people in the U.S. have diabetes. However, 1 in 5 don’t even know they have diabetes.  According to the ADA, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but eating healthy, losing weight, and being physically active can help you not only manage this condition, but also thrive.

What are the symptoms of T2D?

Symptoms develop over time and can include:

• Frequent and urgent urination, often at night
• Extreme thirst
• Weight loss without trying
• Very hungry
• Blurry vision
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Fatigue
• Very dry skin
• Sores that heal slowly
• Have more infections than usual

What is Prediabetes? 

Prediabetes is a medical term used for people whose blood sugar levels do not meet the established criteria for diabetes mellitus but are too high to be considered normal. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. 

The CDC states that 88 million (1 in 3) adult Americans who develop type 2 diabetes nearly always have prediabetes, and more than 84% percent go undiagnosed.

What are the risk factors for T2D?

You are more likely to develop T2D if you:

• Are 45 year of age or older 
• Are overweight
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Are physically active fewer than 3 times per week
• Ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes)
• Gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds

Think You Might Be at Risk?

Without intervention, many people with prediabetes could develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years, which puts them at risk of serious health problems, including: 

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Blindness
• Kidney failure
• Loss of toes, feet, or legs 

Get Started Today to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

The good news is that if you have prediabetes, our CDC-recognized lifestyle change program is one of the most effective ways to prevent getting type 2 diabetes. The program can help you lose weight, become more active, and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

Already diagnosed with T2D? Join our diabetes self-management class:

At Risk or Diagnosed with Prediabetes? Join our Prevent T2D.