Have You Checked Your Blood Sugar Recently?

The CDC estimates that one in three people have prediabetes. That means it could be you, your partner, or even your sibling. Or your Uber driver, your pilot, or your child’s babysitter.

Prediabetes is a condition where a person’s blood sugar is high but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. If prediabetes is not treated, it can progress into type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can lead to blindness, amputations, and kidney failure as well as heart disease, stroke, or death.

Risk factors for prediabetes include age (the older you are the higher the risk), family history of diabetes, having high blood pressure, high BMI, and if you are physically inactive. Bariatric patients are at a higher risk of prediabetes due to their obesity or overweight status. Being at a higher risk means that gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients should make sure that they get their blood sugar checked and know their number.

Knowing your glucose level can help you know if you are at risk of prediabetes, have prediabetes, or if you have type 2 diabetes. If your blood sugar level is high, there are things you can do to reduce your risk. Reducing your risk includes making changes in your diet by reducing refined grains and sugars, exercising, and weight loss.

For people who have tried to lose weight unsuccessfully, bariatric surgery may be an answer. Gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band surgery can provide a long term solution to weight loss, and help reduce high blood sugar levels. For more information on gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or gastric band surgery with Dr. Shillingford call (561) 483-8840 to schedule a free informational session. Dr. Shillingford, MD, PA is a board certified surgeon specializing in obesity surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Shillingford proudly serves as Medical Director at Northwest Medical Center’s Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery.