Vampires and zombies are very familiar with blood. As American Diabetes Month begins these Halloween characters are the perfect reminders for those at risk of developing diabetes to check blood glucose levels.
The growing number of individuals living with diabetes is a bit scary. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Statistics Report for 2017, 30.3 million people (9.4 percent of the U.S. population) were diagnosed with diabetes and 84.4 million people (33.9 percent) had pre-diabetes in 2015.
Many Americans are unaware they have high blood glucose levels and continue to make lifestyle choices putting them at risk for developing diabetes. Health care providers watch for A1C levels ranging from 5.7 percent to 6.4 percent for diagnosing pre-diabetes. Behavior and lifestyle change can decrease risk factors and prevent progress from pre-diabetes to diabetes which is diagnosed when blood glucose levels are over 6.4 percent.
A variety of pre-diabetes and diabetes education programs can help reduce diabetes risk factors by supporting individuals with goal setting, eating right and exercising. The Big Picture of Diabetes Self-Management Education webinar scheduled on November 16 will highlight the benefits and value of these state and national programs including the Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP) and the Stanford Model.
Great Plains Quality Innovation Network (QIN) has Master Trainers and content experts available to assist with education coordination and referral programs in addition to other diabetes resources.