Published on December 09, 2011

A Focus On Pre-Diabetes

Genesis Diabetes Care Center works to stem epidemic

Imagine a world where one in 10 adults has diabetes. That could be the reality in less than 20 years if the disease continues at its current pace, a recent study shows.

The number of people living with the disease is expected to balloon to 552 million by 2030 -- up from 366 million in 2011 -- unless urgent action is taken, the International Diabetes Federation announced on World Diabetes Day. The vast majority have Type 2 disease -- the kind linked to obesity and lack of exercise.

To stem the epidemic, the Genesis Diabetes Care Center is offering classes for people with pre-diabetes. That means they have higher-than-normal blood sugar levels but not enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. They often have other risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.

The class is $20 and offered at Genesis Diabetes Care Center locations in Bettendorf and Silvis.

In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 57 million people with pre-diabetes, and it only takes modest -- not monumental -- lifestyle changes.

“Pre-diabetes, when blood sugar levels are not in the normal range, is a wakeup call that you need to do something now to prevent Type 2 diabetes,” says Marsha Menke, MS, RN, CDE, CPT, manager of the Genesis Diabetes Care Center. “Once you have diabetes, it’s very rare it will go away. That’s why we’re helping people who fall in the prediabetes range.”

She added, “About 58 percent of people with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes if they make very small changes in their lifestyle, such as a 5-10 pound weight loss and increasing their exercise to 150 minutes a week.”

The U.S., with an estimated 23.7 million people, has the highest number with diabetes followed by Mexico, Canada and Haiti. The problem has spread as more people in the developing world adopt Western lifestyles.

Before people develop Type 2 diabetes, they almost always have pre-diabetes. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and the circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes, Menke says. That’s why early intervention to prevent prediabetes from becoming diabetes is so important.

Diabetes symptoms can be difficult to recognize because they can appear gradually over a long period of time. Symptoms can include fatigue, frequent urination, excessive thirst, and in some cases, sudden weight loss, urinary tract infections and blurred vision.

“Diabetes follows a progressive course, often starting with obesity and then moving to pre-diabetes,” Menke said. “If we intervene early on, we can prevent this disease.”

Taking action

Nancy Ingelson of Moline took action so she wouldn’t be among the statistics. She first learned her blood glucose level and blood pressure were higher than normal several years ago, when she committed herself to annual physical exams. She also had risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome, a precursor to diabetes and heart disease.

“Over the years, my fasting blood glucose had stayed high, hovering just below 100 (mg/dL) but it didn’t seem to be going up,” said Ingelson, a chaplain supervisor for Genesis Spiritual Care. “I became concerned when my blood glucose rose to 103, inching closer to the 126 level that indicates diabetes. Diabetes runs in both sides of my family, and I was concerned because those numbers kept creeping higher.”

Last year, she signed up for the prediabetes class at the Genesis Diabetes Care Center in Bettendorf. After two sessions, she learned what she needed to do to help prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

During the first session, Ingelson learned about the diabetes prevention diet, portion sizes, how to chart food intake and the importance of exercise. At the second session, she reviewed her food chart with a dietitian and also participated in Zumba Gold, a beginner’s level of the popular aerobic dance.

“Diabetes can affect just about every part of your body,” Menke concludes. “People in the pre-diabetes stage, have a real opportunity to make changes that can delay or prevent the disease altogether.”