Diabetes educators: skilled professionals for improving prediabetes outcomes.

Abstract

Unchecked, the increasing prevalence of prediabetes can be predicted to only expand the numbers of people developing type 2 diabetes and all its associated health ramifications. People with obesity and prediabetes who are able to manage their body weight are known to decrease their risk of developing diabetes. However, making the changes to diet and levels of physical activity is a difficult proposition for many people. Diabetes educators are a group of healthcare professionals trained to work with people who have diabetes on appropriate goal-setting around self-care behaviors including healthy eating and physical activity to better enable them to accomplish the changes needed for better health outcomes. Applying this same skill set to people with prediabetes provides a ready means for addressing the needs of this population to help diminish their risk of developing diabetes.