Together we can prevent type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a huge burden of disease on the health system and community of Santa Clara County. Prediabetes and gestational diabetes are also serious issues. In the County of Santa Clara, 9 percent of adults have been told that they have diabetes and 22 percent of adults have been told they have prediabetes. Births with gestational diabetes have been increasing almost every year ranging from 5.2 percent in 2010 to 14.1 percent in 2022. 

Prediabetes can lead to other health conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Within 3 to 5 years, about one-fourth of individuals with prediabetes will have diabetes. Almost 70 percent will develop type 2 diabetes within their lifetime. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood. This is due to the body's inability to properly produce or use insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Prediabetes is the stage when your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. By making lifestyle changes when you have prediabetes, you can prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes. On average from 2012-2022, diabetes was the 5th leading cause of death in Santa Clara County. 

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy in women who do not already have diabetes. Gestational diabetes is usually resolved once the baby is delivered, but it increases one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. 

Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can cause serious health issues. These include disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney failure. It can also lead to the loss of toes, feet, or legs. 

Type 2 diabetes is preventable

Preventing type 2 diabetes is “in our hands.” The Diabetes Prevention and Wellness Program (DPWP) team chose strategies for the 2023-2028 strategic plan to support whole person care. This wellness focused perspective led to the creation of DPWP’s 6 stepping stones. The 6 stepping stones are health promoting activities that you can focus on one step at a time:

• Consume healthy foods and beverage
• Move your body
• Get enough sleep
• Reduce stress
• Minimize environmental toxins
• Take care of your entire body including your heart, brain and mouth   

Find out your diabetes risk score

Knowing your diabetes risk score gives you the knowledge you need to make healthy choices that can prevent type 2 diabetes. You can learn your diabetes risk score by answering 6 simple questions in a diabetes risk test. 

Learn more about diabetes and get involved in diabetes prevention: