Did you know that 1 in 5 people don’t know that they have diabetes? There are actually two types of Diabetes.

Type 1 is when the body doesn’t produce any insulin, which can happen at any age for anyone. There are no known ways to prevent this type of Diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes is when the body cannot use the insulin that it produces, properly. This can develop at any age, but most cases can be prevented.

Some risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes are being overweight, not being physically active, being over the age of 45 and having a history of Type 2 Diabetes in the family.

If any of these factors resonate with you, you don’t have to panic! We are going to give all the facts and steps that you can take to help you prevent Type 2 Diabetes.

• We offer a great program within our Family Services department called The Diabetes Prevention Program. This program was developed by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promote healthy lifestyle changesand to help prevent, or delay, Type 2 Diabetes. It’s a yearlong program focused on long-term changes and lasting results. It may sound like a long time commitment, but the program uses peer-to-peer learning and a coaching model that will result in a person’s overall wellbeing. You can take the online screener HERE, to find out if you are pre-diabetic.

• Along with this program, we provide diabetes education to our patients regarding the importance of monitoring blood sugars, foot health and the importance of diet and exercise. Diabetes can also affect your eyes and gums. That is why our Eye Care and Dental teams are available for annual eye and dental exams, so you can stay up to date on your health!

“We really do an amazing job taking care of our Diabetic patients to prevent them from having Type 2 Diabetes,” says our PA-C, Annie Coronado. “Patients with Diabetes should be seen every 3-6 months. If a patient’s A1C is less than 7.0%, they will be seen every 6 months. However, if their A1C is above 7.0% they should be seen every 3 months.” A1C is a blood test that helps our providers measure your average blood glucose, or blood sugar levels.

• We also have comprehensive lab work that needs to be done to monitor our patient’s progress towards diabetic control, and our pharmacy helps a lot with that. “Our Pharmacy works with us to help our patients learn about their glucometer and how to check their blood sugars. They educate our patients about their medications, including how the medication will affect their Diabetes or possible side effects,” says Coronado. Our nurses also provide individual support and answer questions to patient concerns when they come in for their annual visits.

• Like we have stated before, physical activity and diet play an important part in preventing Type 2 Diabetes. Our Dietician Nutritionists are here to help you make good food choices for a healthy diet. “You want your meals to be rich in vegetables and have healthy proteins. If you need something sweet after, whole fruits like berries, citrus, apricots and even apples are good to have,” says our Nutritionist, Karlee Kerr. She recommends this hearty recipe called Mexican Meatball Soup as the perfect meal for someone with Type 2 Diabetes. (See ingredients and instructions below.)

• Our Health Educators are also available to you. As part of our Family Services Department, and our Diabetes Prevention Program, they can help educate you on how to check blood glucose levels, inject insulin, manage diabetes with lifestyle changes and help answer any other questions you may have.

If you have Diabetes or think you might be pre-diabetic, we are here to support you. Our Medical, Dental and Eye Care teams are here to help. Make an appointment today to talk about your health by calling or texting us at 509-488-5256 today.