Know Your Risk, Prevent Diabetes: A Message From DOH

More than half of all adults in Hawai´i have diabetes or prediabetes, according to the State Department of Health. But there are actions you can take to protect yourself.

Both conditions cause higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that can lead to serious health problems. More alarming is that most people with prediabetes do not know that they have it.

To find out if you are at risk for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, take the diabetes risk test at PreventDiabetesHawaii.com and discuss your results with a healthcare provider.

If you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, take these steps to lower your risk:

• Increase your physical activity to at least 150 minutes each week — even short bouts of activity can add up throughout the day
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Join a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)

When you join a DPP, you are paired with a lifestyle coach who will give you tips to eat healthy, manage your stress, and be more physically active. Peer support from other DPP participants can also help to create lasting lifestyle change.

DPP sites are located across the state with some providers offering an online option. To locate an online provider or a location near you, go to PreventDiabetesHawaii.com and click on “Find a Diabetes Prevention Program.”