YANCEYVILLE, N.C. — Among U.S. Adults ages 18 and older, 38% had prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and that was the case for one Triad woman.
Yanceyville native, Wanda Hammock, has got a new pep in her step because she’s no longer at risk for diabetes.
“The thought of being diabetic and being on medicine and having the complications from the medicines and complications from diabetes really got my attention," Hammock said.
After being diagnosed with a hyperactive thyroid in 2021, Wanda says she started to see spikes in her blood sugar levels.
“And in September of 2022, my A1C was actually on the cusp of diabetes," Hammock said.
As life went on, she said things just started adding up. Big life events came with stress and weight gain.
“It was 20 pounds with a marriage, 20 pounds with a pregnancy.”
Wanda knew she needed to make a lifestyle change, so she enlisted the help of Dr. Gebre Nida, Board Certified with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and Endocrinologist at Cone Health in Reidsville.
Dr. Nida said diabetic diagnoses—specifically type two— are on the rise.
“It’s not going anywhere and it’s getting worse actually,”
One reason, Dr. Nida said, is due to people not living a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Nida said applying the six pillars in lifestyle medicine can change anyone’s life drastically.
It all begins with physical activity, stress management, avoiding risky substances, restorative sleep, positive social connections, and most importantly — switching to a healthier lifestyle.
“Eating healthy or choosing the plant-based diet," Dr. Gebre Nida said.
The six pillars helped Wanda lose nearly 70 pounds and reverse her diabetes diagnosis. Wanda says living and eating a healthier lifestyle is a marathon, not a sprint.
For anyone looking to make a change, she says it all starts with you.
“There are so many changes that we can make in our lifestyles that really give us a better quality of life and a healthier life," Hammock said.