One in three US adults has prediabetes. Delaying or preventing progression to type 2 diabetes through dietary and lifestyle changes could help keep money in your pocket (and protect your health), finds a study published in Population Health Management.
“Diabetes can be a heavy financial burden on individuals, even for those who are newly diagnosed with the condition,” says Tamkeen Khan, PhD, primary author of the study. “We found the transition from prediabetes to diabetes costs an additional $8,000 in medical care within the first three years, only some of which is generally covered by insurance.”
If you have prediabetes, Khan recommends the National Diabetes Prevention Program. It has in-person and online options and focuses on healthy eating, weight loss and physical activity. Program fees and insurance-coverage vary. Details are at <cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention>.
To learn more: Population Health Management, February 2017