What is prediabetes?

If you have prediabetes, it means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to have diabetes.

There are no clear signs of prediabetes. Someone may have prediabetes and not even know it! Other people with prediabetes may have some of the signs of diabetes.

Here are some ways to keep you from getting prediabetes:

• Move more – exercise for 150 minutes a week.
• Lose weight to help control blood sugar.
• Drink water instead of juices, soda and sugary drinks.
• Eat less refined starchy foods such as white bread, flour tortillas, white pasta and pastries (baked foods or desserts).
• Choose more high fiber starchy foods such as 100% whole grain products, beans and brown rice.
• Eat more non starchy vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, greens and salads.
• Eat less fatty meats, processed meats and other high fat foods.

Knowing your blood sugar numbers is the best way to know if you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. You can receive no cost blood sugar screenings at an Access to Care & Coverage healthcare pop-up near you, read below for a list of locations. To learn more about Parkland’s Access to Care & Coverage program, visit www.ParklandAccess.org.

For more information on diabetes, please visit Parkland’s diabetes website at www.parklanddiabetes.com