Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. Not everyone with prediabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes, but many of them will.
It’s important to know if you have prediabetes, because research shows that some complications associated with diabetes – such as heart disease – may begin during prediabetes.
Diabetes is a relatively new health issue for Indigenous people. Our traditional lifestyle – with lots of physical activity, traditional foods, and medicines – kept us healthy. Living a healthy lifestyle can help to delay diabetes, and can help those living with diabetes to have a healthier life.
Because diabetes is a significant health concern for our people, WNHAC offers a comprehensive array of culturally appropriate specialized services aimed at supporting people to live well with diabetes and avoid secondary impact as much as possible.
The gold standard of care for people living with diabetes includes controlling blood glucose levels, and regularly monitoring other health indicators related to secondary impacts of diabetes.
If left untreated, too much blood sugar can cause damage to organs, blood vessels and nerves. This is turn can result in high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney issues, loss of vision and nerve damage to the feet.
WNHAC’s wholistic model of care offers culturally appropriate specialized resources for people living with diabetes: