America’s obesity epidemic has set us up for a society that is at high risk for developing diabetes. While it’s estimated that about 24 million have diabetes, there are another 57 million people thought to have prediabetes, a condition that boosts risks for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

If you don’t want to become a statistic, experts say you should start making small changes to your diet and lifestyle as soon as you can. High blood sugar silently damages the body, even if you don’t feel it. Having a normal, healthy weight by itself can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 60 to 70 percent, and eating a healthier diet can slash your risk by 15 percent.

During an interview on NBC Connecticut, UConn Health Center registered dietitian Linda York offers advice on why we should all be going on a prediabetes diet.

Here are the recipes Linda highlights during the segment:

Pork Chops with Peach Salsa: http://www.diabetes.org/mfa-recipes/recipes/2013-08-budget-friendly-pork-chops.html

Fish Tacos: http://www.diabetes.org/mfa-recipes/recipes/2012-05-fish-tacos-quick-recipes.html

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