Diabetes Care and Prevention Center
Diabetes affects nearly 26 million people in the U.S., or 8.3 percent of the population. While more than 18 million of those with diabetes know they have the disease, there are more than 7 million who are unaware they have diabetes. In addition, there are 79 million people with pre-diabetes which means that they are at HIGH risk for developing diabetes!
When a person has diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin correctly. Diabetes is diagnosed when fasting blood glucose is over 125 mg/dL, random blood glucose is over 199 mg/dL or Hemoglobin A1c is over 6.4 percent. Once diagnosed with diabetes, the risk for developing diabetes related complications, such as heart, kidney, eye and nerve disease, increases significantly if blood glucose levels remain elevated.
Before a person is diagnosed with diabetes, blood glucose levels are elevated for months to years. However, these blood glucoses are not high enough to be a diagnosis of diabetes. Pre-diabetes is diagnosed with a fasting blood glucose of 100-125 mg/dL, a random glucose of 140-199 mg/dL or a Hemoglobin A1c of 5.7-6.4 percent. At these levels of blood glucose exposure, blood vessels start to become damaged and the long term complications of diabetes can start developing. It is very important for everyone to know what their blood glucose is because diabetes can be prevented with changes in lifestyle that contribute to weight loss and an increase in activity.
At Kalispell Regional Medical Center's Diabetes Care and Prevention Center, Certified Diabetes Educators, Registered Dietitians, Nurse Practitioners and Endocrinologists work together to help people with diabetes learn how to manage the disease and for those at risk to PREVENT diabetes. Our team is dedicated to the care of people with diabetes and those at risk for diabetes. If you want to learn more about diabetes or diabetes prevention, seek expert care in diabetes management, or need support in your diabetes journey contact us.
The Diabetes Care and Prevention Center is located at 160 Heritage Way, Suite 102 in Kalispell, Montana. Phone 406-751-5454 to learn how these valuable services can empower you to control your diabetes OR prevent diabetes!
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