Diabetes Prevention is Worthwhile...and Doable!

Congratulations on making it through another Lark DPP mission! Since you have gotten so far in the program, you have already put in a lot of work towards lowering diabetes risk through lifestyle changes. This mission may have been particularly motivating for preventing diabetes, since it offered a glimpse of how life can be with diabetes as well as uplifting news on the power you have to lower your risk.

Why Prevent Diabetes

Living with diabetes is far more intense than living with prediabetes. Diets may be stricter, with fewer carbohydrates allowed and less wiggle room for treats and unexpected snacks or delayed meals. It is harder to spontaneously exercise, as blood sugar may drop, and you may need to carry around glucagon and fast-acting carbohydrates to handle dangerous blood sugar drops. Diabetes can mean these additional inconveniences, too.

• More doctors' visits
• More prescription medications, some of them injectables
• Diabetic nerve pain and other signs of diabetic neuropathy
• More frequent infections and missed days of work
• Higher risk for heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke

Genes and Lifestyle

Genes play a role in your risk for type 2 diabetes, as you may suspect if you notice that one or more family members have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. You can also get a glimpse into your risk by taking a simple and quick genetic test with 23andMe. Regardless of your genetic risk, though, lifestyle factors such as weight, activity levels, and dietary habits affect the development of insulin resistance and prediabetes.

How You Can Take Control

There are no guarantees in life, but the odds certainly are in your favor for preventing diabetes with a smart plan and by following through on it. Better yet is that the best-known strategy for lowering diabetes risk is doing exactly what you are committing to by being in Lark DPP: losing extra pounds and being active. Along with losing weight and getting more physically active, eating well, sleeping enough, and managing stress can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Lark DPP is there to support you every step of the way.