Create your game plan for a healthier lifestyle now!
By Alison Crane
Having a game plan leads to a greater likelihood of achieving your goals. When it comes to preventing diabetes following a game plan can save your life. According to CDC, 8 in 10 adults are living with prediabetes and do not know they have it. This means almost 100 million American adults are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Because type 2 diabetes is closely connected to developing other serious diseases and the medicines to control diabetes have some serious side effects, preventing diabetes from developing is an important game changer when it comes to staying healthy.
Unfortunately, it seems that many Americans have grown desensitized and are no longer concerned about developing diabetes. Every year, Diabetes Alert Day®, on the fourth Tuesday in March, is a wake-up call to encourage people to focus on the seriousness of diabetes and to understand their risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Begin by taking the quick and simple Diabetes Risk Test* to help you get an idea of how high your risk is because often there are no outward signs that diabetes or pre-diabetes is developing.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends these steps to start your game plan to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Set a weight loss goal – losing 5-7% of your original body weight can greatly reduce your chances of developing several diseases.
Follow a healthy eating plan and increase your physical activity – reducing calories and being more active each day has a positive impact on weight loss and disease prevention.
Track your progress – writing down goals and recording your weight loss, what you eat and drink, and how long you are active each day encourages continued improvement and helps you gain insight.
Talk with your health care team – your doctor can help you set safe and realistic goals and often your insurance plan can provide extra services or support for weight loss and physical activity.
Find your team to assist with lifestyle changes – friends and family can help you make changes and stick to them and support groups can provide accountability and a cheerleading team.
Contact the Garland County Extension Service to learn more about local programs and resources promoting a healthy lifestyle or to receive a paper copy of the Diabetes Risk Test*. Call 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uada.edu. Visit the National Institute of Health for more information and tips for creating your diabetes prevention game plan.
Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Science Agent with the Garland County Extension Service. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
