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?

The Cost of Diabetes

Diabetes rates have skyrocketed in recent years, and if thing s don’t change soon we will be facing a national crisis. To raise awareness about diabetes and its consequences, November has been designated as National Diabetes Month. Here is an update from the Centers for Disease Control about the state of diabetes in the US.

• Diabetes effects  8.3% of the population (almost 26 million Americans). The percentage is expected to rise to 30 % by 2050.


• Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, non traumatic lower limb amputations and kidney failure in the United States.


• Diabetes is a major cause of heart disease and stroke, and increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.


• Diabetes costs $174 billion a year. The medical expenses for people with diabetes are more than two times higher than for people without diabetes.


• 79 million Americans 20 years and older have pre diabetes. A condition where blood sugar levels are not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes but are too high to be normal. Many, if not most, people with pre diabetes will develop diabetes without intervention.

Ironically, as nasty and serious a disease as diabetes is, it is largely self inflicted. Walter Willett, chairman of the department nutrition at the Harvard Scholl of Public Health says that “type 2 diabetes (which represents 95 % of all diabetes) is almost a totally avoidable disease. We estimate that more than 92% of the cases could be avoided by diet and exercise.” As mentioned earlier, the majority of those with pre diabetes will develop diabetes without intervention, the good news is that a study entitled the  Diabetes Prevention Program (PDP) has proven that moderate weight loss (5% – 7% of total weight) and 30 minutes of exercise five days a week reduced the risk by close to 60%.

Without question, inactivity and weight gain is driving this diabetes epidemic. Maintaining a healthy weight and staying active are your best bets at prevention, and as the DPD has shown, even those at high risk for developing diabetes can greatly reduce their risk with moderate weight loss and exercise.

For more information, visit www.diabetes.org. I also encourage you to look over this American Diabetes Month 2011 PowerPoint presentation from the American Diabetes Association.