WebMD the Magazine's By the Numbers: Prediabetes

Facts and stats on one of the country's top health conditions.

Total health care costs for diabetes in the U.S.: $218 billion.

Estimated number of people in the U.S. who have prediabetes: 79 million.

Total health care costs to cover prediabetes: $25 billion.

Reduced risk of developing diabetes over three years if you follow a healthy food and exercise program: 58%.

Length of time diabetes diagnosis may be delayed through lifestyle or medication intervention: up to 10 years.

Reduced risk of developing diabetes over three years if you take medication to prevent prediabetes: 31%.

Amount of exercise that could reduce your risk of diabetes if you have prediabetes: 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

Your increased risk of heart attack or stroke if you have prediabetes: 50%.

Amount of excess weight loss that could prevent diabetes if you have prediabetes: 7% of your body mass, or 15 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds.

Number of tests available to screen for prediabetes: Three.

Age you should ask your doctor about diabetes screening if your weight is normal and you have no risk factors: 45.

Expert Tip:

"I've found that patients lose weight more reliably once I insist they track their daily food intake. A food record forces you to see what and how much you're eating. Writing down what you eat and adding up the numbers makes you accountable.

Correlating those numbers with your weight or blood sugar levels also helps you see how different foods affect your body. Plus, counting something -- such as calories -- lets you 'budget' for the rest of the day to reach your goal." -- Michael Dansinger, MD, WebMD diabetes expert.

Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of "WebMD the Magazine."

WebMD the Magazine's Health Highlights: September, Healthy Aging Month

No matter what your age, you can stay at your personal best with these expert tips.

Each issue, WebMD the Magazine's "Health Highlights" focuses on a national health theme for the month with expert tips, reader comments, and eye-catching factoids. September is Healthy Aging month – follow these tips to stay at your peak!

1. Get moving

Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy body and brain.

2. Stay social

Take a class, volunteer, play games, see old friends, and make new ones.

3. Bulk up

Eat beans and other high-fiber foods for digestive and heart health.

4. Add some spice

Add herbs and spices to your meals if medications dull your taste buds.

5. Stay balanced  

Practice yoga or tai chi to improve agility and prevent falls.

6. Take a hike

Brisk daily walks this September can bolster both your heart and lungs.

7. Sleep well

Talk to a sleep specialist if you don’t sleep soundly through the night.

8. Beat the blues

If you’ve been down for a while, see a doctor. Depression can be treated.

9. Don’t forget

To aid your memory, make lists, follow routines, slow down, and organize.

Tips from Gary W. Small, MD, professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and director, UCLA Longevity Center

*Take a daily brisk walk with a friend -- you’ll get an aerobic workout, and the conversation will exercise your brain and reduce stress.

*To help control the urge to overindulge, just imagine eating that sweet treat. Research shows the fantasy dessert will satisfy you, and you’ll actually eat less.

Tips from Carla Perissinotto, MD, MHS, assistant professor of medicine, division of geriatrics, department of medicine, University of California, San Francisco

*Every few months, review your over-the-counter drugs with your doctor for any potentially unsafe ingredients. I do this for my parents whenever I visit their home.

*Try yoga. All types help maintain physical and emotional health. My favorite is Kundalini yoga, which focuses on meditation and strengthening.

Tips from Elizabeth Eckstrom, MD, MPH, director of geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Ore.

*Follow a Mediterranean diet to help prevent memory impairment and heart problems. I love salmon covered with fresh thyme and lemon slices and grilled on a plank.

*I do tai chi three days a week, and it dramatically improves my balance. Seniors can do it, too, and cut their risk of falls by almost half.

Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of "WebMD the Magazine."