Health Resources
Prediabetes & Diabetes Health
Managing your blood sugar, understanding and taking your medication, monitoring your diet, and keeping up with physical activity is quite the balancing act to ensure your body is working like a well-oiled machine. GatorCare offers a one-stop shop for prediabetes and diabetes resources to help you achieve that balance.
Jump to diabetes information.
Prediabetes
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a diagnosed condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not quite high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. This increases your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. The good news is that this condition is preventable and manageable.
What do I need to know?
- The sooner you know you have prediabetes, the sooner you can take action to reverse it and prevent type 2 diabetes.
- Find more information about this condition here from a trusted and reliable source like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Diabetes Association
Prediabetes Resources
Screening
Prediabetes Risk Assessment Screening
According to the CDC, prediabetes affects nearly 96 million people, yet 80% of those people don’t know they even have it. Are you one of the 80%? Take a short Prediabetes Risk Assessment Screening to find out your risk today and what you can do to lower your risk to prevent type 2 diabetes.
on-demand program
Healthy Lifestyle Program
The Healthy Lifestyle Program is series of six, 45-minute sessions that will walk you through the fundamentals of creating a healthier, balanced lifestyle. This six-week program is designed for you to access on demand to meet your needs. Discover the latest physical activity and nutrition recommendations, set goals, and practice techniques learned in real-time.
Presentation
Type 2 Diabetes: Action Steps for Prevention
Registered dietitian, Ryan Sanders, talks about the symptoms, risk factors and principles of type 2 diabetes prevention. Discover lifestyle tweaks that can help you prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Presentation
Prevent Diabetes STAT: Screen Test Act Today
Many people realize they have diabetes only when a major health event occurs, such as a heart attack. By then a great deal of internal damage is done, and crisis management is the only option. Learn how to avoid the crisis and stay healthy with Kathryn Parker, RD, LD/N.
Article
Your Game Plan to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
The National Institute of Health has outlined steps to create your personal game plan to tackle diabetes prevention. This article will walk you through the “need-to-know” information to set you up for self-directed success.
Presentation
Getting SMART About Your Goals
Whether it’s eating healthier, exercising regularly, stressing less, or any other improvement, many of us want to improve our health. In this workshop, learn how to create and achieve SMART goals successfully.
Presentation
Self-Assessment for Prediabetes Prevention Q&A
UF HR Wellness talks with Dr. Chip Mainous about one of his latest articles regarding pre-diabetes prevention. Dr. Mainous is a professor and Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Community Health and Family Medicine.
Diabetes
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body doesn’t produce enough of the hormone insulin or does not use insulin properly, which causes the blood glucose (commonly referred to as blood sugar) to rise to abnormally high levels. There are three types of diabetes:
- Type 1
- An autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that make insulin resulting in no insulin production all together. Therefore, the body is dependent on insulin injections to survive.
- Typically, type 1 is diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults, but can be diagnosed at any age.
- Type 2 Diabetes
- A disease where the body does not use the insulin properly, the body is not sensitive enough to its own insulin – this is called insulin resistance. Treatment may include oral or injectable medicine and sometimes insulin to help manage blood sugar.
- Typically, type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in adults, but more and more children, teens and young adults are being diagnosed.
- Gestational Diabetes
- A condition where a pregnant woman has difficulty regulating blood glucose, in which the body doesn’t use the insulin properly – insulin resistance, similar to type 2 diabetes.
- To have a diagnosis of gestational diabetes, the pregnant mother cannot have a current diagnosis of diabetes.
What do I need to know?
- Understanding your blood sugar and your blood sugar targets are crucial to managing your blood sugar. Work with your doctor to find out what your target range is for your blood sugar.
- Ask your doctor if you may be eligible for Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) or Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). This may be covered under your insurance, so check with your insurance provider to see if these services are covered.
- If not controlled, high blood glucose can cause major complications in nearly all vital organs and tissues (including your eyes, kidneys, heart, and teeth). Whether the complications happen sooner, rather than later, prevention starts now!
Diabetes Resources
Program
UF Health Diabetes Self-Management Education
Receive Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) or Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) with the UF Health Diabetes Education and Nutrition Program in Gainesville. Engage in individualized nutrition and diabetes education appointments, followed by small group classes for continued support. Ask your doctor for a referral.
GatorCare members
Free Test Strip Program
GatorCare members diagnosed with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes may become eligible for Contour® brand test strips at no cost throughout the rest of the benefit year.
GatorCare Members
Free Contour® Next Meter
GatorCare members with a diagnosis of diabetes may be eligible to redeem a free Contour® Next glucose meter and have it shipped directly to your home. The hardest part is deciding if you want the Contour® Next ONE meter or the Contour® Next EZ meter. Click the link below for more information.
Program
Living with Type 2 Diabetes
Join the American Diabetes Association’s FREE Living with Type 2 Diabetes Program to receive the support you need to help get your diabetes on track. You’ll receive six free e-booklets on the main topics discussed. Plus, you can attend the Ask the Experts Q&A series covering topics such as foot care, preventing and treating eye complications, meal prep, and health insurance planning.
Florida Blue Members
Healthy Addition Prenatal Program
Expecting mothers covered under any Florida Blue health plan are eligible for the Healthy Addition program. This program provide a pregnancy risk screening, monitoring, emotional support, and education for the mother as well as serving as a resource for questions and concerns.
Resource
CDC’s Living With Diabetes
The CDC provides excellent information regarding living with diabetes, including videos, podcasts, and toolkits on eating well, managing your blood sugar, preventing complications, and promoting your emotional well-being.
Resource
Diabetes Food Hub
The ADA has many heart healthy recipes sure to satisfy your taste buds with the many different categories – for example, meals for one (or two), easy pantry recipes, snacks, and Mediterranean meals.
Presentation
Diabetes Presentations
View these 45-minute presentations to learn more about living with diabetes. Topics include medication management, nutrition for diabetes, lifestyle modification, and more.
Presentation
Diabetes Management Presentations
Join Sherri Shafer, Registered Dietitian with UCSF School of Medicine, for a 6-part video series on diabetes management. Topics include carb counting, hypoglycemia, alcohol, and exercise.
Additional Resources
Resource
UF Diabetes Institute
Learn about diabetes nutrition, upcoming research studies and webinars, support groups, and more. Explore the resources page and sign up for the Diabetes Institute newsletter.
Research Study
Diabetes Research
Participate in a research study on managing diabetes complications, slowing disease progression, or optimizing treatment in early stages. Studies are for individuals with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and relatives of individuals with diabetes. Sign up for the UF Diabetes Institute Contact Registry to be eligible to participate.
Research Study
Free Type 1 Diabetes Risk Screening
TrialNet Pathway to Prevention offers free type 1 diabetes screening to family members of individuals with type 1 diabetes meeting participation criteria. This screening may identify early stages of type 1 diabetes years before symptoms appear, allowing for early intervention. Screening involves a simple and free blood test.
