VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Extension educators will help residents of southwestern Washington learn if they have prediabetes, enabling them to protect their health, through virtual consultations April 12 and 15.
Addressing prediabetes is a national health priority. Clark County Extension is working to meet the U.S. Healthy People 2030 goal of reducing the proportion of adults who don’t know they have prediabetes.
“One in three adults have prediabetes. More than 8 in 10 don’t even know they have it,” said Zena Edwards, associate professor and manager of Clark County Extension’s PreventT2 Diabetes Prevention Program. “Without taking action, many people with prediabetes could develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.”
People with prediabetes—higher-than-normal blood glucose (sugar) levels—are five to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with normal blood glucose levels. About 34.2 million Americans have diabetes. Over 88 million have prediabetes.
The good news is that adults with prediabetes can learn to make healthy changes that can cut their risk of type 2 diabetes in half.
“Small changes can add up to a big difference,” Edwards said. “But taking action to find out your risk score and blood glucose numbers is the first step.”
One-on-one in person or virtual consultations for helping individuals determine risk for prediabetes are available on Monday, April 12, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During the 20-minute appointment, an Extension PreventT2 Lifestyle Coach will provide a prediabetes risk score and suggested actions for preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes.
Registration is required for the prediabetes risk screening.
Appointments are available via Zoom or in-person at the WSU Extension Clark County. For in-person appointments, masks will be required to be worn at all times. Hands and frequently touches surfaces will be sanitized between appointments and six feet of physical distance will be maintained.
People who already know they have prediabetes or women who have had a previous clinical diagnosis of gestational diabetes can sign up for WSU Extension’s CDC Recognized PreventT2 program.
Media contact:
- Zena Edwards, PreventT2 Diabetes Prevention Program, WSU Extension Clark County, 564‑397‑5700, zena_edwards@wsu.edu
