Diabetes Prevention

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body can’t use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in your blood. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition. It can lead to health issues such as heart attack; stroke; blindness; kidney failure; or loss of toes, feet, or legs.

What is Pre-Diabetes?

Prediabetes is a blood glucose (sugar) level that is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. One in three American adults has prediabetes, and most do not even know they have it. If you have prediabetes and do not lose weight or do moderate physical activity, you can develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

Am I at Risk?

You are at increased risk for developing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes if you:

Are 45 years of age or older;
Are overweight;
Have a family history of type 2 diabetes;
Are physically active fewer than three times per week; or
Ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds.

If you think you may be at risk, a health care provider can do a blood test to see if you have diabetes or prediabetes.

Take Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) Program

The St. Mary’s County Health Department offers the Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS®) program to St. Mary’s County community members. Since 1948, TOPS has provided weight-loss support to millions of people by offering tools for healthy living and weight management.

Participants in the TOPS program attend weekly in-person or online meetings to help them achieve their weight-loss goals. They will also be able to access members-only resources to support healthy eating and physical activity, including recipes, a weight tracker, and fitness guides.