Do you have prediabetes or diabetes? You are not alone!
Fast Facts
- 1 in 10 people have diabetes.
- 1 in 5 people don’t know they are living with uncontrolled diabetes.
- 1/3 of the US population is prediabetic - but 80% of those people don’t know they are.
- 90-95% of people who have diabetes have type 2.
- About 10% of all pregnant people get gestational diabetes.
Diabetes is a common condition that can be prevented or managed with exercise, food, and medications. This does not mean you have to start training for a marathon and drink only kale smoothies, though! Small steps can lead to big rewards.
Understanding diabetes can help you prevent or manage diabetes. In this section, you can:
- Learn about our new myA1C inCheck Diabetes Management Program,
- learn basic information about diabetes,
- take a quiz to see if you are at risk for diabetes, and
- find simple changes you can make to lower your risk of getting diabetes.
myA1C inCheck Diabetes Management Program at Chase Brexton Health Care
For many people, diabetes can be hard to manage. If you are having trouble keeping your A1c and blood sugar at healthy levels, Chase Brexton Health Care’s myA1C inCheckDiabetes Management Program may be right for you.
Through myA1C inCheck, you will get support from your Chase Brexton provider PLUS a registered dietitian, clinical pharmacy specialists, and pharmacy technicians with special training in the treatment of diabetes. This program is designed to make managing your diabetes simpler for you, so you can live your healthiest life!
With the myA1C inCheck team, you will get a realistic treatment and healthy lifestyle plan that is created just for you. A plan that you CAN maintain. Your myA1C inCheck team will stick with you as long as you need and adjust your plan so it works FOR YOU. Together, you will get your A1c and blood sugar to healthy levels for your healthiest life possible!

Nutrition Counseling & Education

Expert Pharmacy Guidance

Specialized Care Above and Beyond
Diabetes Basics
Diabetes is a condition you can be born with or develop.

When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make or use insulin properly which causes blood sugar to get too high or too low.
Uncontrolled, diabetes can seriously damage the body. It can cause many serious health issues, including:
- Vision issues and blindness,
- Foot problems,
- Nerve damage,
- Cardiovascular disease,
- Kidney disease, and
- Stroke.

Though there are symptoms of diabetes, the symptoms can be mild or may seem like something else. It is really important to get regular check-ups and blood work to make sure you don't have prediabetes or diabetes. Some common symptoms of diabetes are:
- Urinating often
- Feeling very thirsty
- Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
- Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet
Blood sugar is also called 'glucose'.
Many of the foods we eat are turned into blood sugar.
The sugar is then carried by our blood to our organs and cells. Our cells turn the sugar into energy to fuel our brain, heart, lungs, and muscles.
What affects our blood sugar?

Things that can make blood sugar rise include:
- A meal or snack with more food or more carbohydrates than usual
- Inactivity
- Side effects of medications
- Infection or other illness
- Changes in hormone levels, such as during menstrual periods
- Stress

Things that can make blood sugar fall include:
- A meal or snack with less food or fewer carbohydrates than usual
- Extra activity
- Side effects of other medications
- Missing a meal or snack
Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by our pancreas. The pancreas is a small organ behind our stomachs.

Insulin makes it possible for our blood sugar to be absorbed by our organs and cells.
Insulin is like a key that opens the door in our cells to let blood sugar in.
When insulin doesn't work properly, our blood sugar can't get through the door and into our cells. Then our blood sugar doesn't fuel our muscles and organs correctly.

A1c is a blood test that tells you and your provider your average blood sugar for the past 2 to 3 months.
This is an important test because it shows how well your blood sugar is being managed.
This test is also a good way to find out if you are prediabetic.
To help you with your diabetes risk quiz, this calculator will tell you your body mass index (BMI).
Note: We don't recommend using the BMI calculator to decide if you are overweight - it is simply a guide.
Supplied by BMI Calculator USA
What is Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
Note: for the quiz below you will need to know your body mass index. For that reason, we've put a BMI calculator to the right.
Simple Changes You Can Make to Prevent Diabetes
Being overweight isn’t just a risk factor for diabetes. Being overweight can lead to unhealthy cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, high blood sugar and even stroke.
The good news? Losing just 10-15 pounds can help reduce your diabetes risk!
Want to cut your risk in half? Lose 7%-10% of your current body weight. Start small, then work your way down:)
In many cases, our bodies were MADE to move. When we stop moving, our bodies stop working the way they were made to work. Muscles that are exercised regularly improves your ability to use insulin correctly and absorb glucose. Plus, your weight and blood pressure will thank you, too. All it takes is 180 minutes of moderate exercise a week. That’s less than 30 minutes a day! But wait, you might be wondering, what is ‘moderate’ exercise?
No, you don’t have to train for a marathon. Just do some brisk walking, bike riding, housework, yard work, or even dance for about 30 minutes a day. You got this.
Smoking leads to a lot of damage in our bodies, but it also increases the risk of developing diabetes by 50%!
Food is something we need AND, often, love. Here is your chance to eat to feel good. Start simply by focusing on:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Lean meats and plant-based sources of protein
- Less added sugar
- Less processed foods
Locations
Baltimore
1111 North Charles Street
Baltimore
, MD
410-837-2050
Columbia
5500 Knoll North Drive, Ste. 370
Columbia
, MD
410-837-2050
Glen Burnie
200 Hospital Drive
Glen Burnie
, MD
410-837-2050