If your blood sugar is high and your A1C numbers are higher than normal
you may have something they are now calling “prediabetes”. Many people
find out they have prediabetes when they go to a health care professional
and have their blood glucose tested. Prediabetes is diagnosed when these
critical numbers are elevated, but not high enough to be considered as type
2 diabetes. It’s estimated at 98 million US adults—that’s 1 in 3 of us—have
prediabetes.

You’re at risk for prediabetes if you:

• Are overweight (Body Mass Index or BMI over 25)
• Are 45 years or older.
• Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes.
• Are physically active less than 3 times a week.
• Have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or
  given birth to a baby who weighed over 9 pounds.
• Are an African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native person. Some Pacific Islander and Asian American people are also at higher risk.

If you have prediabetes, it does not mean you will develop type 2 diabetes.
With proper measures, the onset of type 2 diabetes can be delayed or even
prevented. But, if no action is taken, up to 30% of people with
prediabetes will develop diabetes within five years. These interventions
include losing weight, eating healthy foods, managing stress and being
active.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at educational
programs that help people prevent diabetes using these interventions and
established some guidelines for them. This research showed that 58% of
people with prediabetes can reduce their risk by participating in a
structured lifestyle change program. Here in NC there are many CDC
recognized diabetes prevention programs. A partnership between NC State
University and the NC Division of Public Health developed a CDC recognized
program called Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes. The ESMMPD
started in 2019 and since then they have reached over 6000 people.

What’s good about our Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes is that it is
available online and in real time. This means it isn’t a recorded
program—you meet online in a live interactive session with a trained
lifestyle instructor/coach and other participants with similar goals. The key concepts include planning, tracking and living mindfully. Discussion topics
of the 12-month program include eating fewer calories, moving more,
rethinking your drink, portion control, eating out, controlling sugar and
keeping the commitment.

These online classes are held using Zoom and are fully accessible on a
desktop, laptop, smartphone, and tablet. The format of the classes allows
participants to interact with their instructor and classmates. The group will
work through challenges together and celebrate each other’s successes.
Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes has been proven to motivate and
empower participants.

North Carolinians taking part in ESMMPD only pay $30 and receive ALL $30
back for meeting attendance and tracking requirements (program value =
$430). This offer is available for all North Carolinians regardless of
employment or insurance status. NC State Health Plan and BCBSNC
members are eligible to participate at no-cost.

Upcoming online classes will start: Wednesday, May 15th, 2024, 6:00 p.m. to
7:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If these May dates won’t work for you,
there will additional classes starting in June, August and September. But
don’t put it off, these will be the last classes for participants to receive low
cost and reimbursed fees. Visit the ESMMPD website to see available class times and enroll!

Prior to signing up, if you want more information go to the ESMMPD
website for details and to see if you are at risk for prediabetes. They also
have prerecorded information session that can explain the complete
program.

Even if you don’t want to commit to the entire 12-month program the
ESMMPD website has lots of information you can use including tools,
resources, a blog and recipes. There is also a newsletter and you can get on
a mailing list to know when the classes will start later this summer.

For information on prediabetes and diabetes go to the CDC.gov/diabetes.
For the ESMMPD program and for
more information on other CDC recognized prevent diabetes programs in
NC look for NC Prevents Diabetes. To stay informed of new classes and to share your preferred class day and time, sign up here for monthly reminders!

Syracuse is a Family and Consumer Science team member and can be
reached at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County Center 910-253-
2610 or by email at clsyracu@ncsu.edu