Prediabetes is when a person as higher blood sugar levels than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle changes may prevent prediabetes from developing into Type 2 diabetes. More than 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. have prediabetes. Prediabetes is reversible whereas diabetes is not.

 

Signs and Symptoms

• Feeling unusually tired, especially after meals

• Increased hunger or thirst

• Dark, velvety patches of skin (especially around the neck, armpits, groin or knuckles)

• Slowly healing cuts or wounds

• Unexplained weight loss or gain

• Mood shifts, irritability or brain fog 

• An increasing waistline

 

Are you at risk for prediabetes?

Take this prediabetes risk test developed by the CDC to find out more.

If you scored a 5 or higher, you are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.  

 

Take Action 

Talk with your physician about an A1C test, fasting plasma glucose test, or an oral glucose tolerance test.

Join our National Diabetes Prevention Program! Check out upcoming dates this program is offered under our diabetes classes information.

Become familiar with our online resources to learn more about diabetes education and support programs and how diabetes affects the body.

Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have not previously had diabetes. It is diagnosed through prenatal screening, rather than through reported symptoms. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born. Those with gestational diabetes are an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in the future and complications during pregnancy and delivery. Your baby is at an increased risk for obesity later in life as well developing Type 2 diabetes.

 

Type 1 diabetes was once called juvenile onset diabetes. It is now called Type 1 diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin, and insulin is always needed for treatment. The cause of Type 1 and ways to prevent it are unknown. Symptoms usually develop quickly. Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in children or young adults; however, it can be diagnosed at any age.

 

Type 2 diabetes is when you cannot properly use insulin. The pancreas makes insulin, but cells become more resistant. The pancreas produces less insulin over time. For the most part, type 2 diabetes is preventable. It may develop over many years, and you may not notice any symptoms, so testing is important.

Risk Factors

• Being overweight 

• Aged 45 years or older 

• Tobacco use 

• Having a parent or sibling with Type 2 diabetes 

• Being physically active less than 3 times per week 

• Ever having gestational diabetes 

• Giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds 

• Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

• Having depression 

• Having sleep apnea 

• Being of African, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Pacific Islander, or Asian decent  

 

Managing Your Risk

There are a variety of things you can do to reduce your risk for Prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. They include: 

• Increase physical activity 

• Eat a well-balanced diet 

• Maintain a healthy weight 

• Quit tobacco 

• Limit alcohol consumption 

• Monitor blood sugar levels, if at an increased risk 

• Consider Diabetes Prevention Programs 

• Get enough quality sleep 

Preparing for your visit

Come prepared with questions and focus on understanding your individual needs, current health status, and setting realistic goals for managing your blood sugars and overall health. Track your blood sugar and bring your results with you. Bring a list of all your medications and supplements. Consider bringing a support person to help take notes and help you remember the information. Be open, honest, and transparent with your provider. Discuss how diabetes impacts your emotional health. Ask clarifying questions if you do not understand something. 

Key topics you may want to discuss 

• Blood sugar goals 

• Medication management 

• Lifestyle changes 

• Potential complications 

• Vaccinations 

• Other health conditions and how they might affect your diabetes management 

• Mental health support 

• Diabetes management classes 

We offer evidence-based diabetes management and prevention classes to anyone who is at risk for, has been diagnosed with, or who takes care of someone with diabetes.

 

Take Charge of Your Diabetes

Join us to build skills and gain confidence in managing your diabetes and leading an active, fulfilling life. This program is open to those with prediabetes, diabetes and their caregivers.

• Classes meet once a week for 6 consecutive weeks
• 2.5 hours/class
• Interactive, small group sessions
• NO COST
• Upcoming classes
  • Julio 22 a Agosto 26, 10:00am-12:30pm, McHenry County Department of Health Crystal Lake

If you are interested in future classes, please submit our future class interest form.

 

PreventT2

This is a CDC recognized program by the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) to help individuals delay or lower their risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

• 1 year program made up of 22 classes
• Proven lifestyle change program
• Support and guidance from a trained lifestyle coach
• No upcoming classes at this time

If you are interested in future classes, please submit our future class interest form.

 

Take Charge of Your Health

This class is designed to improve the self-management skills of people living with ongoing health issues. This program teaches new strategies that will give participants the confidence, motivation, and skills needed to manage to live with a chronic health condition.

• Classes meet once a week for 6 consecutive weeks
• 2.5 hours/class
• Interactive, small group sessions
• NO COST
• Upcoming classes
  
  • September 9 to October 14, 11:45am-2:15pm, Johnsburg Public Library

If you are interested in future classes, please submit our future class interest form.

 

Northwestern Medicine

• Information about diabetes and resources

American Diabetes Association 

• Information about diabetes and resources/tools

Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists

• Search for diabetes education and support programs

CDC

• Information about diabetes

 

Prediabetes increases the risk of:

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Stroke

If your patients have prediabetes, losing weight by eating healthy and being more active can cut their risk of getting type 2 diabetes in half.

Lifestyle Change Program

The lifestyle change program that is part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program is proven to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. It is based on research that showed:

• 58% lower incidence of type 2 diabetes after weight loss of 5 to 7% of body weight achieved by reducing calories and increasing physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week.
• 71% reduced the incidence of type 2 diabetes for people 60 and older.
• 27% lower incidence of type 2 diabetes in lifestyle change program participants after 15 years.

The lifestyle change program provides:

• A trained lifestyle coach
• CDC-approved curriculum
• Group support over the course of a year
• A full year of in-person or online meetings

Your patients will learn to make achievable and realistic life changes

• Eat healthy
• Manage stress
• Incorporate physical activity into their daily routine
• Solving problems that get in the way of healthy changes

Patient Eligibility

• 18 years or older, and
• Overweight, and
• Diagnosed with prediabetes or previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes

How you can help your patients

• Test your at-risk patients for prediabetes.
• Refer your patients to McHenry County Department of Health's CDC lifestyle change program. More information can be found under diabetes classes.

Learn more from CDC and find other approved lifestyle change programs at: www.cdc.gov/diabetes-prevention

Diabetes Community Resource List (también en español)

Low-Cost Clinics