Prediabetes Affects 1 out of every 3 Americans

At Hilton Head Health, we want our Guests to stay educated with the most up-to-date information regarding nutrition, health and wellness. The proper knowledge is a key tool to help Guests with not only weight loss management but healthy living and disease prevention.

With 29 million Americans with diabetes, according to Edward Gregg, chief of the Epidemiology and Statistics Branch of the Division of Diabetes Translation at the CDC, “We already have a diabetes epidemic on our hands.”  Unfortunately things will likely get worse before they get better. Eighty-six million (1 out of every 3) people in the U.S. have pre-diabetes and 90% of them are unaware of that fact. Pre-diabetes means that blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Within 5 years, 15 – 30% of those with pre-diabetes will develop diabetes. Leigh Perreault, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado predicts that up to 70% will develop diabetes in their lifetime. The good news is that a study called the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)  proved that with moderate lifestyle changes, those with pre-diabetes can dramatically lower their risk of progressing to full-fledged diabetes.



Though the numbers may seem daunting, and changes can often be difficult, pre-diabetes doesn't have to lead to full-fledged diabetes. Healthy lifestyle changes can include something as simple as switching from drinking soda's to water, cutting out sugar in your morning coffee, or walking an extra 30 minutes a day. What healthy lifestyle changes do you practice to help keep your health in check?