Prediabetes: Take Control of Your Health

Only your doctor can diagnose diabetes or prediabetes. But you take steps to lower your risk.

• Talk to your doctor about getting a simple blood sugar test.
• Think about the quantity and quality of your food and how much physical activity you get. Consider changes to add more nutritious options to your diet, and to move your body more.
• Add a few healthy habits to your daily routine. For ideas, read about Prediabetes: What Is It and What Can I Do? (PDF) from the American Diabetes Association.
• If you’re overweight, set a weight loss goal. Talk with your health care provider about a goal that is reasonable and safe for you.
• Find people and programs that will support your progress. Join a diabetes prevention lifestyle change program.
• Read On Your Way to Preventing Type 2 Diabetes (PDF) from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
• Watch the Imagine YOU Preventing Type 2 video series from CDC to learn how real-life diabetes prevention lifestyle change program participants learned skills to build healthy habits with the support of a trained Lifestyle Coach and other participants who shared the same goals.

If you were told you have prediabetes, start making decisions to improve your health. Now that you know you have prediabetes, you can make small lifestyle changes that will make a big impact. Simple changes can improve your blood sugar levels and prevent type 2 diabetes.

• Follow your doctor’s advice, eat nutritiously, and exercise.
• Talk to your friends and family about your condition. Ask for their support.
• Learn about lifestyle change programs. Find out if there are any free or low-cost programs in your community.
• Search online for websites on diabetes prevention and support groups.
• Make a plan to monitor your progress at home and with your health care team.

Resources from the CDC

• Adding Physical Activity to Your Life
• High Blood Pressure
• Overcoming Barriers to Physical Activity
• Tips to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight

Other resources

• Affordable eating from the U.S. Department of Agriculture—Healthy Eating on a Budget
• Healthy eating from the U.S. Department of Agriculture—Start Simple with MyPlate App
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases—Your Game Plan to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
• Tips for prevention from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases—Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
• Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line

Many locations across Wisconsin offer the National DPP in person. Find a program (Excel) that best fits your needs and contact them directly to find out when classes meet.

Join online National DPP course sessions via a computer, tablet, or smartphone. You’ll view program videos and articles, but may not gather in a real-time, virtual group settings with other participants. You can interact with your lifestyle coach each week through email, text, or video chat. Online National DPP providers (Excel) tend to be national organizations not based in Wisconsin.

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program is a covered benefit for Medicare Part B recipients and Medicare Advantage members. These programs are held both in person and by distance learning. Contact the organization directly about upcoming programs.