RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Each week we visit with a local health professional to learn better ways to stay healthy. This week, we have Donna Riley, clinical dietitian and diabetes educator Monument Health Learn how to prevent and reverse diabetes.
“According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, healthspan is the period during which a person is healthy, not simply alive. That's where prediabetes comes in. What is prediabetes? Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are not normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes. Diabetes can lead to complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, eye problems, and nerve damage.”
According to Riley, one in three adults in the United States has prediabetes, but for those over 65, nearly 50% of people over 65 have prediabetes. This means that prediabetes can take away years of healthy life, especially if it progresses to type 2 diabetes. The good news is that 71% of people over 60 can prevent or at least delay type 2 diabetes. So how can you delay it?
“Losing as little as 5 percent of your body weight can delay the onset of diabetes. Medicare pays for the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, which is a year-long program that includes more than 20 group-based sessions where we come together to discuss lifestyle factors that can help lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by changing your diet and exercise habits,” Riley continued.
Topics covered by the group include healthy eating; how to eat healthy while traveling; how to stay active while traveling; how to manage stress and cues from others that may prompt unwanted eating; and help with understanding carbohydrates and heart-healthy foods. Medicare will cover 100% of the cost of this year-long program.
“You can join us in person at our Rapid City location, you can join us virtually, or you can join us as a snowbird. Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program. So, do you qualify? Probably. Your BMI must be 25 or higher, 23 or higher if you are Asian. You must have abnormal blood sugar levels and be on Medicare. Please reach out to us for Medicare Diabetes Prevention at Monument Health Diabetes Education,” Riley concluded.
That's Donna Riley, clinical nutritionist for Healthwatch. Join us next week for Healthwatch.
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