Medical professionals in the Washington, D.C., area are raising awareness about prediabetes, which affects one in three Americans, but many may not know it.
According to the CDC: One in three Americans has prediabetes, and many may not know it..
More than 160,000 people in Washington, DC alone suffer from this disease. According to the American Diabetes Association.
The report also found that among people at risk for diabetes but not yet fully diabetic, as many as 80% are unaware of the symptoms or condition of prediabetes and do not seek medical attention until it is too late. He also says that there is a possibility that there will be no.
That’s why medical professionals in the D.C. area are raising awareness about prediabetes, what you need to know, and how to change course. This is especially timely as November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.
“Prediabetes is essentially a warning signal to the body,” says Dr. Kwame Akoto, a family medicine specialist at Maryland-based Kaiser Permanente. “My blood sugar levels are rising, but not yet above the diabetes threshold.”
Akoto said symptoms can be similar to other illnesses and may include, but are not completely limited to, certain telltale signs.
“If you start noticing unusual symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, frequent urination, or excessive thirst, you should seek medical attention,” he says. “Especially people who are prone to diabetes.”
Akoto said overweight and inactivity are two of the biggest causes of prediabetes.
“As you gain weight, your risk factors for developing these diseases also increase,” he said.
But there’s also genetics.and it is It’s a story Lloyd Bailey knows all too well.
Back in 2017, Bailey said she met Akoto after noticing the same symptoms. He was worried because he comes from a family with diabetes.
“I wasn’t myself,” he told WTOP. “And I’m so grateful I made the decision to go to the doctor.”
Blood tests revealed he was prediabetic, and he was able to reverse his trajectory before developing type 2 diabetes.
“At the end of the day, it was a lifestyle change,” Lloyd said. “What are you doing now to change for the better?”
“Dr. Akoto guided me, but ultimately my health was my responsibility,” he added.
Akoto said changing what you eat and your activity level can help improve your prediabetic condition.
“Try to average about 150 minutes of exercise per week,” says the doctor. “But you can break it down however you like.”
Akoto and Bailey said it was also important to act quickly.
“Diabetes is in my blood,” Bailey said. “But that doesn’t mean it has to be my story. My advice is… ‘Check yourself.’
