Millions at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes, But Early Detection Can Prevent Disease

If you haven’t heard of the term prediabetes, you should.

In the U.S. some 88 million people — more than 1 in 3 — are living with prediabetes, and more than 84% don’t even know they have it.

Prediabetes can increase a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

But the good news is that prevention is possible. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) release, in conjunction with the American Medical Associations and the Ad Council, point out that research has shown that once people are made aware of their condition, they are more likely to make the necessary long-term lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier, managing weight and being active, that can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

The groups are focusing on this particular condition, as Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition that poses a significant risk for complications to those who contract COVID-19. A recent study showed type 2 diabetes is one of the top comorbidities associated with COVID-19 severity and deaths. 

So the groups have launched a  campaign, “Change the Outcome.” As part of the campaign, they have a risk test called, “Do I Have Prediabetes?" 

“Life sometimes grants us an opportunity to make small changes that can have profound effects on the trajectory of our health and our lives,” said Christopher Holliday, Ph.D., MPH, director of the Division of Diabetes Translation at the CDC, in a statement. “Diabetes affects every part of the body and can lead to a cascade of negative health outcomes, significantly impacting a person’s quality of life. A prediabetes diagnosis sounds the alarm, letting people know that they need to change course and take the opportunity to prevent this devastating disease before it’s too late.”

The campaign website also features lifestyle tips and links to CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program, which connects visitors to a registry of more than 1,700 in-person and online CDC-recognized programs across the country.