Your health is important no matter what time of year it may be. People with healthy eating habits live longer and are at lower risk for serious health issues such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

For people with chronic diseases, healthy eating can help manage these conditions and prevent complications. Healthy eating is one of the biggest factors in having better health overall.

Preventing Diabetes

Diabetes affects millions of people in the U.S. Not only does it alter an individual’s health, but it touches the lives of friends and families, and creates financial pressure on many households.

Having diabetes means having multiple challenges when it comes to engaging in daily routines and living with the overarching fact that all people with diabetes must face: If you have diabetes, you have a higher chance—sometimes twice as high—of having cardiovascular disease, stroke and even depression.

Now is the time to reach out to your county health department for healthy eating strategies and find information and resources on diabetes prevention and management, including programs like Healthier You.

Take Steps to Prevent Pre-Diabetes and Lower Your Chances for Heart Disease and Stroke

Prediabetes is when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal—you don’t have type 2 diabetes, but you’re getting close. Approximately 96 million American adults have pre-diabetes and more than 80% don’t know they have it. Those may be big numbers, but the good news is that you can prevent or delay pre-diabetes:

• Talk to your health care provider about your specific risks and ways to avoid life-threatening conditions.
• Move more starting with 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
• Stop smoking or using tobacco products.
• Avoid sugary drinks and drink more water.
• Eat healthy meals and pay attention to the quality of food you eat.
• Manage your stress.
• Improve your sleeping habits.

Take Extra Steps and Try New Recipes

When you do the work to prevent diabetes or live well with the disease you are also taking care of yourself for a longer, healthier life. The choices of regular exercise and healthier food that can prevent and manage diabetes, are the same healthier choices that can work for everyone, every day.

During the holiday season, don’t put a pause on making good choices. Start new traditions such as taking a morning or after-meal walk (or both) and preparing healthier food options.

Download these diabetes-friendly recipes chosen by Florida Department of Health’s educators and nutritionists.