June is Men’s Health Month. It is easy to take your health for granted, especially when things are busy, but here are two easy things you can do today in support of your health.
Schedule a yearly checkup with your primary care provider
At your yearly checkup, your PCP will review your medical history and medications; check your height, weight and blood pressure; listen to your heart and lungs; and perform any bloodwork or other necessary tests and exams needed, depending on your age and health history.
- If you don’t have a PCP, it’s easy to find one close to home or work with our Find a Provider search.
- Already have a PCP? Schedule your yearly checkup today through MyChart.
- Looking for more ways to take time for your health? Check out our Y:OU Time page.
Check your risk for prediabetes
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 1-minute online test asks a few simple questions about your health, including how active you are, whether you have a family history of diabetes, and how much you weigh. Then the website tallies your points for whether you’re likely to have prediabetes and might be at high risk for type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes is a condition that affects 96 million Americans – or 1 in 3 people – and it means that a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Men are more likely to have prediabetes than women, which means it’s important for you to know your risk.
If you have a high-risk score, you’ll want to discuss with your PCP. Your PCP might refer you to a program like the Diabetes Prevention Program at Valley’s Lifestyle Medicine Clinics and YMCA’s in our area. The Diabetes Prevention Program is a CDC-recognized lifestyle change program that can help you learn ways to lower your chances for getting type 2 diabetes.
Content adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Prevention Program Toolkit
