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(Honesdale, February 25, 2009)…It’s not too late to prevent diabetes, even if you’ve been diagnosed as “pre-diabetic.”  If you follow the right game plan, the experts say you can delay or even dodge the disease altogether. Wayne Memorial Hospital’s Nutrition Services Department is offering free packets on how to craft your plan and stay on course to prevent your pre-diabetes from becoming Type 2 Diabetes.

      Pre-diabetes means you have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to result in a diagnosis of diabetes. Glucose is the form of sugar your body uses for energy. High glucose levels in your blood can cause damage to your body and organs over time causing problems like heart disease, stroke, or eye and kidney damage.

      Most people with pre-diabetes have no symptoms. So, who should be tested? And how do you know if pre-diabetes lurks in your system? If you are 45 years or older, your doctor may recommend that you be tested for pre-diabetes, especially if you are overweight (and many of us are)!

      Even if you are younger than 45, consider getting tested if you are overweight and:

- are physically active less than 3 times a week

- have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes

- have high blood pressure

- have abnormal cholesterol levels, especially if HDL (the “healthy” cholesterol) is low or if triglyceride levels are high (greater than 250)

- Had gestational diabetes while pregnant or gave birth to a b