It’s no secret that diabetes is a growing problem in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 96 million adults aged 18 years or older had prediabetes in 2019. You have prediabetes if your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes.

Having prediabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, so it’s important to be proactive and take steps to delay or prevent it. But before we tell you what those steps are, let’s debunk some common myths about diabetes prevention.

Myth No. 1: Diabetes is inevitable if it runs in your family.

This is not true!

While it’s true that diabetes can be hereditary, many lifestyle factors play a role in whether or not someone develops the disease.

Myth No. 2: You can only get diabetes if you eat too much sugar.

This is not entirely true.

While eating too much sugar can certainly lead to weight gain and make you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, there are other factors at play as well, like your:

• Age: People ages 35 and older are at higher risk for diabetes.
• Race and ethnicity: People with African, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic or Pacific Island heritage are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
• Family history of diabetes: The condition tends to run in families.

Myth No. 3: There’s nothing you can do to prevent type 2 diabetes.

This one couldn’t be further from the truth!

There are plenty of things you can do to lower your risk. You can:

• Eat a healthy diet. This means eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Get regular exercise. Aim for at least 150 minutes a week of exercise or physical activity. Don’t let more than two days go by without being active. When sitting for long periods, get up for light activity every 30 minutes.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight, losing just 5% to 7% of your body weight lowers your risk.
• Get regular screenings. Talk to your doctor about getting screened for diabetes.

Sign up for Tanner’s Diabetes Prevention Program

If you’re at risk, our Diabetes Prevention Program can help you beat the odds.

This program, created by the CDC, is provided through Tanner’s Get Healthy, Live Well initiative. The year-long program is designed to help you lower your risk of developing diabetes.

It combines certified coaching, proven learning materials and small-group support to help get you on the path to better health. In the class, you will learn easy strategies to eat healthy and add physical activity to your daily life.

Through the program, you can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 58% (71% if you’re over the age of 60).

If you’re ready to take control of your health, sign up for the program today!

We’ll provide you with the resources and support you need to make healthy changes in your life.