We’ve all heard about diabetes, but according to the CDC, more than
84.1 million adults in the United States have pre-diabetes. That is more
than 1 in 3 adults, most of whom have no idea that they are at risk for
type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke. About 5% of people with diabetes
have type 1 and about 90% of them have type 2. According to the CDC “Diabetes
is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body
turns food into energy.” Although there is no cure for the disease,
medical science assures us that losing weight, eating healthy and exercise
can help in preventing or controlling diabetes.
(About Diabetes, 2019)
What if you are one of the 84.1 million adults in the United States who
have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes? How do you prevent getting type
2 diabetes, heart disease or a stroke? A person with pre-diabetes should
discuss their condition and options with their Primary Care Physician
(PCP) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) like the ones available
to Florida Health Care Plans members as part of their health care plan.
One of the most important things that a person with this disease should
do is change their eating habits. According to Medical News Today, “Results
of the Diabetes Prevention Program” (DPP) “in the United States
have suggested that, in people who are overweight, each 2.2 pounds (1
kilogram) they lose in a year can reduce their risk of developing diabetes
by 16 percent.”
(Huizen, 2018) In fact, if a person attends and completes the DPP while losing only 5%
of their body weight they reduce their risk of diabetes by 58%! Participants
were encouraged to eat food that is low in fat, low in calories and high
in fiber. They should also eat plenty of vegetables, whole grains, lean
meats, and protein-packed legumes. Another thing a person with pre-diabetes
or diabetes should do is exercise, it is an effective tool for improving
health. According to Harvard Health, “Regular physical activity
can lower your risk of heart disease, aid in losing weight and stabilize
your blood glucose levels.
(The importance of exercise when you have diabetes, 2019)
So now that you know you must eat better food and be more physically active,
what’s next? As a member of Florida Health Care Plans, you don’t
have to figure this out on your own. With Preferred Fitness programs,
Diabetes Prevention Programs, Diabetes Self-Management Training, including
Registered Nurse educators, and Medical Nutrition Therapy that are led
by registered dietitians, Florida Health Care Plans provides tools to
help you take control of your pre-diabetes or diabetes condition. Florida
Health Care Plans education classes are scheduled into groups or individual
appointments to enhance behavior change based on individual needs. A weight
management class, Eat Right Move Right, is now offered in five locations
at various times for the convenience of our members if you cannot attend
the DPP. You can start by contacting your PCP and the Diabetes/Health
Education Department at (386) 676-7133 or toll-free 1-877-229-4518. To
learn more on how Florida Health Care Plans can help with your health, please
click here.