Tuesday, March 24, is American Diabetes Association Alert Day® and as the leading community-based network committed to improving the nation’s health, the North Penn YMCA is encouraging people in our community to learn the risks of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes and steps they can take to prevent the disease.
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What is pre-diabetes?
- Having prediabetes means a person has elevated blood glucose levels that are not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. People with prediabetes are at risk for not only developing type 2 diabetes, but also heart disease and other conditions.
- An estimated 86 million people, one in three adults, in the United States have prediabetes, yet just 10 percent of those individuals know they have it.
- In 2012, the total cost of diagnosed diabetes was $245 billion; $176 billion was in direct medical costs and $69 billion in reduced productivity.
About Type 2 Diabetes:
- People who are overweight, inactive and over the age of 45 are at higher risk for the disease.
- Medical expenses for people with diabetes are more than two times higher than for people without diabetes.
- The average medical expenses for a person with diabetes are $13,700 per year.
Prevention:
Individuals can reduce their risk for developing diabetes. Research has shown that modest weight loss and regular, moderate physical activity can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes among adults at risk.
Take control! We offer an unbelievable amount of programs and resources to help you control your weight and get active, all while having FUN! More information on our Adult Health and Fitness Programs can be found here.