Beat Diabetes

What is type 2 diabetes and why is it so dangerous?

  • Type 2 diabetes usually starts with insulin resistance, when sugar in our blood, in the form of glucose, can’t enter our cells as it normally does to make energy.
  • Since more glucose enters the bloodstream as we eat and drink, but less enters our cells, it builds up in the blood.
  • Over time, high levels of blood glucose cause damage in our bodies, leading to serious health problems.
    • In the U.S., diabetes is the No. 1 cause of:1
      • Kidney failure (requiring kidney transplant or dialysis)
      • Lower-limb amputations (having to cut off a foot or a leg)
      • Adult blindness
    • Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in Hawai‘i.2

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar (glucose) is higher than normal, but not high enough to be called type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes puts us at higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Who is at risk for prediabetes?

One or more of the following puts us at higher risk for prediabetes:

  • Being overweight
  • Being 45 years old or older
  • Having a family history of type 2 diabetes
  • Being physically active less than three times per week
  • Having a baby that weighed more than nine pounds
  • Having gestational diabetes during a pregnancy

Take the Prediabetes Risk Test and, if it shows that you’re at high risk of having prediabetes, talk it over with your doctor.

Can prediabetes be reversed?

Yes! A lifestyle change program, like the Beat Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), can help us build new, healthy habits to reverse prediabetes and lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

  • In a DPP , we will learn to:
    • Eat healthy without giving up our favorite foods
    • Add physical activity to our lives, even when we’re short on time
    • Manage stress
    • Discover solutions to situations that can slow progress—like how to choose healthy food when eating out
    • Stay motivated and get back on track if we stray from our plan—because everyone slips now and then.
  • Each session is led by a trained, lifestyle coach who encourages, coaches, and motivates us to make long-lasting, lifestyle changes.
  • Sessions can be in-person, online, or a combination of in-person and online.
  • Most importantly, DPP will provide the support we need from people with similar goals and challenges.

Who can join a Beat Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)?

Adults 18 years or older with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or more (23 or more if Asian or part-Asian) must:

Click to enlarge

People who have been told that they have/had type 1 or type 2 diabetes and people who are pregnant at the time of enrollment may not join a DPP.

Read Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.

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References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is Diabetes? Updated September 5, 2023. Accessed February 21, 2024. (Diabetes Basics | Diabetes | CDC)
  2. Hawaiʻi State Department of Health, Hawaiʻi Health Data Warehouse. Leading Causes of Death: State of Hawaiʻi, 2018-2022. December 1, 2023. Accessed March 15, 2024. (LCD-State-Report-2020_2022.pdf (hhdw.org))
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report: Estimates of Diabetes and Its Burden in the United States. Updated November 29,2023. Accessed March 22, 2024. (National Diabetes Statistics Report | Diabetes | CDC)